The Brussels Court of Appeal has approved the naturalization request of Mohamed Toujgani, the Moroccan imam who served at the Al Khalil Mosque in Molenbeek, Belgian news outlet DH reported.
Toujgani had his right to stay in Belgium revoked after being considered “a threat to national security” following the resurfacing of a 2009 video in 2019, in which he incited violence against Jews.
Toujgani’s naturalization request was initially accepted by the court of first instance, but the Public Prosecutor’s Office appealed based on information from State Security.
The Moroccan imam later apologized for the remarks he made in the video, calling it “a slip-up” related to the war between Israel and Palestine.
Currently residing in Morocco, Toujgani is expected to receive a Belgian identity card within three to four months and return to Belgium following the Court of Appeal’s decision, according to DH.
However, the Public Prosecutor may file an appeal in cassation, which could suspend the entire procedure pending a decision from the Court of Cassation.