France expels ‘radical’ Tunisian imam for flag slur

France has expelled a Tunisian imam accused of making derogatory remarks about the French flag and the country’s national anthem.

The imam, who has not been named, was reportedly arrested and deported for making inflammatory statements during a sermon at a mosque in the northern French town of Lille.

French officials described the imam as a “radical” and said his actions were not in line with the values of the French Republic.

The incident comes at a time of heightened tensions in France following a series of terrorist attacks in recent years, including the brutal murder of teacher Samuel Paty in October 2020.

President Emmanuel Macron has vowed to crack down on Islamist extremism in France and has introduced new laws aimed at combating radicalization.

The expulsion of the Tunisian imam is seen as part of this broader effort to combat extremism and preserve French values.