Tunisian Organization Sues Imam Hassen Chalghoumi for “High Treason” Over Visit to Israel
Transparency watchdog demands stripping of Tunisian citizenship from French-Tunisian imam after meeting Israeli officials and denouncing Palestinian resistance.
Watan-A Tunisian organization announced that it has filed a legal complaint against French-Tunisian Imam Hassen Chalghoumi, accusing him of “high treason” following his recent visit to Israel. The group also called on Tunisian authorities to revoke his Tunisian citizenship.
Last Monday, Israeli President Isaac Herzog welcomed a delegation of European Muslim clerics in Jerusalem, led by Chalghoumi, in a visit that Israeli officials claimed aimed to “build bridges and promote dialogue.”
However, the Tunisian Observatory for Transparency and Good Governance condemned Chalghoumi’s actions, stating that his visit and leadership of other imams to express solidarity with the Israeli government and to denounce the spirit of resistance was a “disgrace and an insult to the dignity of the Tunisian state.” The outrage intensified after Chalghoumi was seen in a video apparently attempting to kiss the hand of Israeli Interior Minister Moshe Arbel.
In a Saturday statement, the observatory declared:“What this individual, Hassen Chalghoumi, has done — openly normalizing ties and aligning with the Zionist entity — does not represent the Tunisian people nor honor the Tunisian state in any of its components. Tunisia’s position on the Palestinian cause is well known to all.”
The organization emphasized that Chalghoumi’s public comments constitute “direct incitement against resistance to Zionist aggression,” undermining opposition to colonial Zionist projects and promoting flagrant normalization with Israel.
The statement called on the Tunisian judiciary to initiate public prosecution against Chalghoumi, arguing that his actions qualify as high treason and a breach of national dignity. It also noted the possibility of pursuing legal action in military courts under laws that criminalize collaboration with foreign states and normalization with the “Zionist entity.”
Chalghoumi, well known for his pro-normalization stance, has sparked controversy multiple times in the past — especially after meeting various Israeli officials and publicly criticizing Hamas for its role in Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, which he claimed targeted “innocents” in Israel.
