French Shari’a Watch

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A suburb of the French city of Lyon, Venissieux is becoming known as a hotbed of Islamic terrorism: Muslim Radicalism Flowers in French Town. (Hat tip: scaramouche.)

Six residents of Venissieux were arrested Jan. 6 in connection with the planned 2002-2003 New Year’s celebrations attack, including a local imam, or prayer leader, Chellali Benchellali, his wife and son. Another son was arrested in 2002.

Two other men from this city of 56,000 are detainees at the U.S. base in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, including Benchellali’s third son.

Venissieux, on the edge of the southeastern city of Lyon, epitomizes France’s troubled big city suburbs, teeming with high-rises, cursed with soaring unemployment and peopled mostly by Muslim immigrants from France’s former North African colonies. Generation after generation, they are unable to break out.

“It shouldn’t be hidden by the trees and parks. There is misery here,” said Zohra Hammia, 35, who runs a tutoring program for children.

Investigators contend that Menad Benchellali, 29, was preparing toxic potions in face cream containers at the family home with plans to attack Russian interests in France, including the embassy in Paris. The aim was to avenge deaths of Muslim rebels in the breakaway Russian province of Chechnya. The recipe involved deadly ricin poison and botulism bacteria.

Menad Benchellali, who allegedly trained in Georgia’s lawless Pankisi Gorge on the Chechen border, was arrested in December 2002 with eight others in two Paris suburbs. Lists of chemicals and equipment, including a protective suit, were found.

Menad’s brother, Mourad, is one of two residents held at Guantanamo. His neighborhood friend, Nizar Sassi, also is detained there. Menad, the alleged “chemist” in the Chechnya network, sent the two men off to Afghanistan in 2001, investigators have said.

Their father, a 59-year-old imam born in Algeria, reportedly made at least three trips to Bosnia to deliver humanitarian aid to Muslims. According to police, Chellali Benchellali then became involved in the cause of Chechen Muslims, showing films of Russians soldiers fighting Chechens at his mosque to collect funds for them.

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Last updated: 2023-04-04 11:11 am PDT
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