Costa imam denies charges
Religious leader – who claims to be a ‘ man of peace’ – preached in mosques in the Marina Alta as well as Almoradí and San Vicente del Raspeig
Accused of spreading hate in Costa Blanca mosques
MORAIRA- based imam Hesham Shashaa – accused of spreading hate in Costa Blanca mosques and aiding returning jihadist fighters – told a court this week he was ‘ a man of peace’.
The 50 year old, who came to Alicante in 2011, told judges in Madrid he preached against violence and the radicalisation of young people after dedicating his life to the rejection of terrorism following the ‘ evil attack’ on the Twin Towers in New York in 2001.
And he told the High Court he used social media and mosques across the province to condemn terror organisations such as Islamic State group and Al- Qaeda – trying to ‘ avoid a repeat of M11’ – the 2004 Madrid train bombings that killed 193 people.
Hesham Shashaa was arrested in April 2017 by armed police at his home close to the El Alcazar Urbanisation.
The prosecution has asked for a nine- year jail sentenced for the imam, who has four wives and 26 children.
Said to be backed by wealthy patrons in the Middle East, the defendant is accused
of creating a Spanish base to spread radical jihadism and provide a base for fighters returning to Europe from Syria and Iraq.
It is alleged that before arriving in Spain, the imam was expelled from Romania for trying to recruit young people to train as fighters in Afghanistan – arriving in Germany in 2000 but later forced to move again over his radical form of Islam and indoctrination of young people came to the attention of the authorities.
Giving evidence, he denied being expelled from Romania and coming to Spain to flee mounting pressure from German police.
He noted: “What led me to stay in Spain was my love for this country, the sun, paella, gazpacho and the sea. Nothing more.”
He said following the deadly Madrid attacks he had vowed to ‘ contribute in Spain in the fight to prevent more attacks’ and on multiple occasions spoke in Spanish mosques against terrorism.
Hesham Shashaa admitted he preached in mosques in towns such as Teulada, Calpe, Altea, Pedregeur, Gata de Gorgos, Almoradí and San Vicente del Raspeig.
He told the court: “They are all legal mosques and I have never allowed any jihadist imam to enter.”
The trial continues.