Imams Facing More Scrutiny in Europe

[tocqueville]

By JAMEY KEATEN, Associated Press Writer
Wed Aug 3,10:14 PM ET

PARIS - Since the deadly terror bombings in London, Italian authorities have deported eight extremist Muslim prayer leaders for not holding the proper residency papers. France has expelled two imams and plans to ship home another eight. And Britain has put many clerics under close watch as the country re-examines its power to deport them.

Shaken by new terrorism on European soil, officials have stepped up a policy of deporting Islamic clerics accused of whipping up hatred and violence in vulnerable, disenfranchised pockets of the continent's mostly moderate Muslim community.

Several European countries enacted expulsion policies after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks on the United States, saying legislation was needed to ensure public order and security.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20050804/ap_on_re_eu/europe_expelling_imams