You have commented 339 times on Rantburg.

Your Name
Your e-mail (optional)
Website (optional)
My Original Nic        Pic-a-Nic        Sorry. Comments have been closed on this article.
Bold Italic Underline Strike Bullet Blockquote Small Big Link Squish Foto Photo
Submit your comments on this article
Europe
Italy to expel controversial imam
2003-11-18
Officials in Italy say they are deporting a Senegalese imam who poses a "great threat" to state security. The decision follows recent statements to the media by Fall Mamour, predicting that there would be attacks on Italian soldiers in Iraq.
Bad timing, Fall.
The 39-year-old imam was already being investigated for his financial deals, an interior ministry statement said.
Aren’t they all.
The move comes as Italy prepares for the state funerals of 19 policemen and soldiers killed last week in Iraq. Mr Mamour would be expelled within days, the ministry said without giving further details.
"Pack your shit and get out."
"He (Mamour) was already known to authorities as somebody who received suspect funds," the ministry said. "In addition, for a long time, and even more so since the slaughter of Italian soldiers in Nasiriya, he has launched dangerous initiatives, especially in the present context of international terrorism." The statement said Mr Mamour had several aliases and was best known as the "imam of Carmagnola" — a suburb of the northern city of Turin. Since the Nasiriya attack, several Italian newspapers have published stories on a series of predictions Mr Mamour made weeks before the bombing, in which he warned of attacks against Italian soldiers in Iraq and Afghanistan. The imam said Italy’s troops would be targeted because they were aiding the US-led coalition, adding that further strikes would then follow on Italian soil.
I’m surprised that there haven’t been any attacks on our supporters in Europe. Either they have been pro-active enough in breaking up any terror cells, or our fly paper strategy has drawn all the hard boys into Iraq.
Mr Mamour — who has lived in Italy for 11 years — has previously stirred controversy by his statements on Italian television programmes. During one of the TV interviews, he said he had once fought alongside Osama bin Laden and was linked to the al-Qaeda leader by what he said was a "blood pact".
Posted by:Steve

#8  When the Iranians took hostages, we expelled most of the Iranian students from the US. Better for them anyway - too many guys with conferate flags in the back of their pick-ups ... oops sorry.

Off topic - If the Confederate flag is so controversial, how did the Dukes of Hazard get on the air on network tlevision?
Posted by: Super Hose   2003-11-18 9:15:05 PM  

#7  I wonder why the Brits are not taking similar action by the bushel! It seems every time you turn your head in London, Manchester, and other big UK cities, you look straight at some mosque or Moslem "religious school" preaching death and destruction upon the infidels -- the UK government directly included. What's with the Brits? Death wish?
Posted by: AT   2003-11-18 2:23:02 PM  

#6  Damn! Gotta love the attitude of that police chief!
Posted by: Robert Crawford   2003-11-18 1:22:43 PM  

#5  Maybe they can move to Rwanda and become honorary Hutus.
Posted by: Old Patriot   2003-11-18 11:54:34 AM  

#4  "Your husband wanted holy war, no? And she says "how dare they".

I'm sure she and the iman will enjoy Senegal. That will be a real eye opener for her.
Posted by: Lucky   2003-11-18 11:46:26 AM  

#3  Oh, phooey, the link didn't work - Cose's at blogspot.

This was posted on 11/14.
Posted by: Anonymous   2003-11-18 11:01:18 AM  

#2  Cose Turche's following this, and he posted this last week:

...Reportedly, the police chief who searched Mamour's house replied to the objections of Mamour's wife (an Italian convert to Islam) by saying: "your husband wanted holy war, no? well, we're here precisely to give him holy war, don't worry, we'll satisfy all your demands" - which sent the woman even more berserk, protesting the "invasion" of her home and asking to see her husband and where had they taken him and he'd done nothing wrong and how dared they. At which stage, the police chief replied: "you keep quiet, madam, or there's handcuffs waiting for you too".

Informative blog in English and Italian,

link

Posted by: Anonymous   2003-11-18 10:59:55 AM  

#1  why he is being expelled intact? Let the families of the dead soldiers have at him
Posted by: Frank G   2003-11-18 9:22:37 AM  

00:00