The Government justifies the arrest of the Islamic leader expelled for jihadism who is supported by the Catalan Parliament

MADRID, 8 Dic. (EUROPA PRESS) -

The Government has justified the recent expulsion of Mohamed Said Badaoui, the Islamic leader from Tarragona who was arrested for crimes related to jihadist radicalism and who received the support of pro-independence groups and En Común-Podem in the Catalan Parliament considering him a victim activist of "Islamophobia".

"Article 54.1.a) is being applied very serious violations of Organic Law 4/2000", says the Executive in reference to the current regulations on Immigration, and quotes verbatim: "Participating in activities contrary to security national or that may harm Spain's relations with other countries, or be involved in activities contrary to public order".

In this sense, it recalls that in the present legislature the State Security Forces and Corps have carried out 135 arrests for their alleged belonging or connection to jihadist terrorism, including two minors among those arrested --a Spanish national and another a Moroccan -- with legal documentation in national territory, according to the written response dated November 21 consulted by Europa Press.

"The State Security Forces and Corps, in the field of offenses in immigration matters and its sanctioning regime, are in charge of following legally established procedures and deadlines in the matter," continues the Government, which recalls that Spain has been here since 2015 on anti-terrorist alert 4 and that in 2019 updated the National Strategy Against Terrorism.

Mohamed Said Badaoui, a resident of Reus, was arrested on October 18 and admitted to a Center for the Internment of Foreigners (CIE) until, a month later, the expulsion order to Morocco was executed. The same happened with Amarouch Azbi, another prominent leader of the Islamic community.

ERC, CUP, Junts and Unidas Podemos-En Comú Podem denounced after his arrest that Mohamed Said was a victim of "political repression through the Aliens Law". Hence, through the Catalan Parliament, they urged the Generalitat to "activate all administrative, legal and diplomatic tools to ensure their rights."

However, the Contentious-Administrative Chamber of the National Court refused to suspend the expulsion of Mohamed Said, whom the Police describe as "one of the main leaders in Spain of the most orthodox Salafism", responsible for the "increase in radicalism in the Tarragona region because of his speech".

The National Court recalled that the decision of the Ministry of the Interior was based on a complaint from the General Information Commissioner where it warned of "his ideological radicalism", specifically mentioning the "indoctrination" in his community through the dissemination of "pro-jihadist postulates".

The Police warned that Mohamed Said would have "ties to radical individuals related to terrorism" and that he had dedicated himself "for years" to "proselytizing and recruiting" activities.

He especially pointed out his attempt to recruit among the "most vulnerable and manipulable groups, paying special attention to minors, specifically unaccompanied minors, mainly of Moroccan origin, indoctrinating them into the most radical Salafism." He would also have dedicated himself to promoting "victimism and occidentalophobia".