France expels 'radical' Tunisian Islamic leader

France has expelled a Tunisian Islamic religious leader for being "radical", France's Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said on X, formerly Twitter.

"The radical imam Mahjoub Mahjoubi has just been expelled from the national territory, less than 12 hours after his arrest," Mr Darmanin said.

He was sent back to Tunisia via a Thursday evening flight, the Reuters news agency reported, citing French media reports.

Mr. Mahjoubi had caused controversy and eventually faced arrest after a video of him describing the "tricolour flag" as "a satanic flag" that has "no value with Allah" went viral earlier this week.

He did not specify which flag he was talking about, but many assumed he meant the French flag, which has three colours.

Mr Mahjoubi has denied wrongdoing and said that his statement in the video was misinterpreted.

"This is the demonstration that the immigration law, without which such a rapid expulsion would not have been possible, makes France stronger. We won't let anything go," Mr Darmanin said of the expulsion.

France expelled Mr Mahjoubi under a new law that has reduced protections for foreign residents, making it easier for the government to forcibly remove them from the country.

Mr Mahjoubi's lawyer said he would appeal against the expulsion.