PARIS, Nov. 1 (UPI) -- A Tunisian imam was kicked out of France for promoting jihadist violence, violence against women and anti-Semitism, authorities say.
Mohamed Hammami, the 77-year-old religious director of the Omar Mosque who has lived in France for decades, was expelled the country Wednesday, Radio France Internationale reported.
Hammami "encouraged violent jihad [holy war], made anti-Semitic remarks and justified the use of violence and corporal punishment against women," France's Interior Ministry said in a statement.
"These unacceptable, deliberate, repeated provocations and discrimination constitute a threat to French society and security," the statement said.
Hammami's expulsion was part of efforts in France to tighten security and strengthen its anti-terrorism law in recent weeks.
