“The Republic must protect its youth”: Hassen Chalghoumi warns of the radicalization of teenagers

Following the dismantling of a jihadist plot in Lille involving two 16-year-old minors and a third suspect arrested this week, Imam Hassen Chalghoumi issued a solemn warning about the dangers of youth radicalization via social media. In a message posted on X, he referred to a "vulnerable" youth exposed to hate speech, victimhood narratives, and Islamist propaganda capable of driving some to commit acts of violence.

The imam denounces, in particular, the influence of "Islamist and Muslim Brotherhood" ideologies, which he says exploit the anger, isolation, and frustration of some teenagers to fuel a rejection of the Republic, law enforcement, and Jews. He recalls the dramatic consequences of this spiral of radicalization, citing the attacks at the Bataclan, Charlie Hebdo, Nice, and Toulouse.

For Hassen Chalghoumi, the fight against this threat must be a collective effort. He calls on parents to more closely monitor the content their children access, on schools to strengthen critical thinking skills, and on religious leaders to unequivocally combat extremist rhetoric. He also urges political leaders to act quickly "before it's too late."

The imam concluded by paying tribute to the police, gendarmes, DGSI agents, and the services of the Ministry of the Interior, praising their "vigilance" and "courage" in the face of the terrorist threat. This powerful statement came amidst rising security tensions and a growing number of radicalization cases involving increasingly younger individuals.