The return of France’s polygamous Muslim butcher

France’s infamous ‘polygamous Muslim butcher’ was back in the headlines Monday, this time because two of his supposed wives were caught wearing the niqab, or full Muslim veil, on the school run. The development is the latest twist in a surreal tale that we have yet to hear the last of. The Halal butcher owner from the western city of Nantes, who has been accused over the past few years of polygamy, terrorist activity, aggravated rape and benefit fraud, is back in court again again. This time, Lies Hebbadj is in trouble on behalf of two of his partners, who were caught wearing the niqab in public (illegal under French law since April), and fined 140 euros each. Hebbadj outside court on Monday with his legal wife and one of his mistresses (AFP). Hebbadj first made it into the headlines in April 2010 when his legal wife was arrested for wearing a niqab while driving a car, which the police deemed dangerous. Ticking every box on the ‘unwelcome immigrant checklist’ (despite arriving in France at the age of two), he effortlessly embodied the far-right’s raison d’etre and shot to fame as the ‘polygamous Muslim butcher from Nantes’. The accusations – that he had travelled to Pakistan to train as a terrorist, lived with four women, had dozens of children, was running an Islamist sect – soon started to fly. So when he was actually charged with welfare fraud in June that year, and then aggravated rape two months later, the real charges were overshadowed by the array of fantastic rumours drummed up by the rightwing press. The situation was not helped by Hebbadj’s twisted sense of humour. When then interior minister, Brice Hortefeux, threatened to take Hebbadj’s French passport away from him for practicing polygamy in the summer of 2010, he laughed off the claims by arguing that he had one legal wife and three mistresses – what could be more French than that? “If I’m stripped of my nationality for having mistresses, they’ll have to strip a lot more people here in France,” he told reporters with a smirk. Hebbadj taking his dog for a walk in April (AFP). Born in Algeria in 1975, Hebbadj became a French citizen when he was married in 1999. According to his neighbours, he’s a quiet resident who spends his evenings visiting his female friends (presumably his mistresses – they’re all single mothers who wear the niqab but continue to produce offspring). While he is accused of Islamist dealings, local Muslim leaders argue he is more interested in cars and women than Islam, which they say he employs as “a costume that he puts on to seduce women”. On Monday, Hebbadj returned to the spotlight when he turned up at court to represent his wife and mistress. Accompanied by a posse of fans to protest against the charges, the ‘criminals’ themselves had to wait outside, for the same infraction that got them arrested in the first place (they were wearing the niqab). Hebbadj told the judge he was happy to attend the hearing because it meant he could appeal the sentences and request to be heard in a court of human rights (without specifying one in particular). The ruling UMP party was probably delighted to see Hebbadj back in the papers – he could prove a useful tool in the run-up to the presidential election. Nicolas Sarkozy has shown a willingness to upset the country’s 5 million-strong Muslim community if it means winning back far-right voters who are siding with the more hardline National Front party. With his distinctive attire, niqab-clad harem and snarky sense of humour, Hebbadj is the perfect excuse for a tough approach to immigration.

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17 Comments

Theophilus Ghos... - Sat, 01/21/2012 - 04:10

I do hope Europe ( and the West ) wakes up and destroys Politically Correct and it's insidious message of destroying Western Culture and Civilization, through promoting every culture but European. Our media and entertainment venues are only Politically Correct brain washing thinly disguised as entertainment. Look at movies and television. Have sex and babies with every race but your own. Don't get married women have a career instead of a husband and children. If you do have children only have one. Don't replace or sustain your population. Meanwhile the invaders are having 12 children and popping them out like machine gun fire. It is time to regain our sense of pride and identity and take pride again in the accomplishments of our people. Isn't that what we tell all the other groups? We complemented the Japanese on their conduct after the great earthquake. No looting no disorder. They have a mono-racial society. Yet we don't call them racist or demand they open their borders to the world. funny that.

Amarjyoti Acharya (not verified) - Fri, 01/20/2012 - 20:54

It is nice to see the European Union of Greek philosophy, Roman Jurisprudence & Christian morality finally admit that the Moors will be back this way or that. The final emergence of a pan-European Islamic network that will have its voice heard and often listened to and implemented is not very far off. The emergence of the Sharia Courts in many parts of Europe do mean that a more tolerant Europe rather than a secular Europe may emerge in the future. The de-secularization of Europe sought by the Church in the inclusion of the term "Christian" as a defining pillar of Europe shall not be as desired by the various Churches. One either stands the risk of radicalization of Europe in the future - like one already reads of in Switzerland and some parts of Germany - or the emergence of a more religiously-tolerant Europe. This is something one has noticed with interest along with the emergence of the Muslim in the Dutch too - as it is very evident in its emergence in France and French academia. One hopes however that French tourism to India by its Catholic women increases! I have my reasons to state so.

Ali (not verified) - Fri, 01/20/2012 - 12:37

Where is freedom??? Restriction of what to wear is the opposite of freedom. If anyone thinks France is a free country, that someone is in cloud-cuckoo-land.

Freedom (not verified) - Thu, 01/19/2012 - 11:37

People are good and bad everywhere. There is trash people everywhere in developed and undeveloped countries. By the way burqa or niqab is not islamic. But there is freedom of religion and even these women with niqab can wear niqab, its personal issue what anyone will wear. Imagine someone to push you in undeveloped countries to wear burqa and you are asking the sam e of undeveloped countries for these women. Why nobody is preventing Saudi of what they are doing toward Saudi or any women there. Everyone is keeping his mouth shut because of their oil. This is hypocrisy from the side of French politicians and the West. The thing we should be concern is to fight against people who are really threat to public like this guy but not against women in niqab or whatever. And of course religion should be someones personal relation with God not on state level. Everyone is free to practice his religion.

Soo (not verified) - Thu, 01/12/2012 - 20:54

Anyone who wishes to wear a burka please go back to your country of origin (ethnic country), come to the west and assimilate or leave. We don't want our countries turned into the shitholes you left behind.

Anonyme (not verified) - Thu, 12/08/2011 - 12:35

It's not a question of religious intolerance. It is a question of driving with a big black tent covering your head and impeding your ability to drive safely. It's a question of any man can drape himself in one of those things, strap on some bombs and carry two machine guns and hurt a whole lot of people. You gotta admit that it is commonplace in Muslim countries to do such things. Isn't that one of the reasons why you don't live there? Or even just to commit a bank robbery, kidnapping or whatever. Investigating the kidnapping of a bank manager or child is a little tough when the eyewitnesses can only say, "Well they were in this big black tent thing and had a machine gun." ICome on people, wake up and use your common sense. You are in Paris in 2011, not a souk in 1011. This is a different world. It's not religious persecution. It is public safety. If I was a Muslim of one sect, I would feel safer knowing that I was in a country that valued human life enough to try to at least cut down on the possibility of easily hiding lots of weapons that can be taken onto to the train I was riding in to my specific mosque that may not be favored by a local lunatic from an opposing sect. Respect the laws of the country you are in or go home and blow up your neighbor because he goes to a different mosque or beat up your beloved because someone in the marketplace took their cane, lifted up her ha' jib a couple of inches to take a gander at her ankle, after all, it was her fault. If you didn't beat her regularly, no telling how wild she'd get.

Anonyme (not verified) - Thu, 12/08/2011 - 12:15

It's a matter of public safety. Bombs and other large weaponry can easily be hidden under those tents. And who's to say it's a woman under there? How can eyewitnesses identify the person when a crime has been committed? "Oh, the bank robber was in a big black tent and had a machine gun." Doesn't give the police or security cameras much to go on. Ha-jibs hide faces and whole bodies, usually innocent but just too many times,especially in the last few years, not. Sorry, but safety for the general public overrules. It does not mean that France does not respect religious freedom. They just have to be careful. Any person with sense will just have to accept that. So if you are Sunni, Shiite or another Muslim sect wouldn't you feel safer on the bus or train knowing that France is working on making it harder for people from the "opposing sect" to hide weapons? You have to admit that blowing up people including innocent children in crowded places is become common amongst some Muslim sects. You don't see the Amish doing that sort of thing. And don't bring up the inquisition, crusades or other things that happened hundreds of years ago. Lets all move forward, ok? If Muslims want the image of their religion to improve, you would think that the outcrying and condemnation of the leaders who want to wipe out Israel, the U.S. and Western nations would be daily, loud and more widespread. Aren't Muslims sick of constant stream of hatred or what? Can't they convince their brethren to live a better way of life? That guy is not a good Muslim if he has publicly announced the women he keeps breeding with are just mistresses. How degrading is that for them? How do those kids feel when the man who is their father publicly announces that their mother is just his mistress. He is a selfish sex addict who wants variety at the expense of the French welfare system and the women he exploits. Manipulating women into wearing cumbersome tents is like putting a choke collar on a dog. It is a psychological reminder that the men their lives are dominant over them and they'd better just close themselves off from the outside world. "After all its for their own good." I am not talking about not being submissive to Allah, that you can do with your heart and your actions. The ha' jib is a big, black tent that can cause a car accident if you cover your head with it while driving. Think about the other people on the road. Like many extreme religious or racist cultures, they are taught to distrust outside influences. It's not about love or piety but about being beaten down with negativity, manipulation and control. The leaders resent that their host country or their own country promotes equality and will not sanction the abuse and control over women that seems to be acceptable generally in Muslim cultures. Some of these men are taught that without this control, the women would go wild. They obviously don't realize that most women are good, God fearing, love their husbands and family, who don't need abuse to keep them faithful. Women, by their nature will put up with a lot of crap and still have the faith, patience and love to hang in there until their husbands grow a brain or a heart. I am not ignorant to the Koran and its teachings. I tried to keep an open mind, but my faith and my personal relationship with God have taught me to do unto others as I would have them do unto me. I would never want to consider another as my property to "feel free to beat them if they do not obey". He teaches me that whatsoever I do to another, that I do unto Him. He has made us all in His image. We are to ALL serve and be kind to one another. We don't go around mistrusting and suspicious of our beloved, making them wear big black tents over themselves, telling them it's for their own good. And we don't strap bombs around our waists and go into a crowded bus to blow up innocent people and pretend that we are making ourselves a martyr. We know the definition of the word martyr. The Islamic world, for the most part does not. So . . . Viv la France!!! I pray that the Good Lord Bless them and keep them safe.

Anonyme (not verified) - Thu, 12/08/2011 - 08:07

Most people don't know what still happens to Christians in Muslim countries. They should look into it. I don't think they'd be quite so accepting of the "diversity" of accepting the culture of people who literally want to bring about WWIII. The head religious leader of Egypt was seen a few days ago wielding a sword calling for the annihilation of Jews, Americans and British to a cheering crowd of an estimated 1 million Muslims. They have voted to promote the Muslim Brotherhood who wants to achieve just that. And my countrymen are worried about which Kardashian is getting married or divorced at the moment. That's what we get for letting our government degrade education while upgrading their own benefits, vast staff and pay. Europe is being threatened from within by Islam and their hateful, ungrateful agenda is growing. Where is the gratitude from Muslims worldwide for western countries coming to their aid in Yugoslavia, Afghanistan and countless other places and times we've sent our fine military to die and be maimed to help them? How many bombs have been hidden under those ridiculous hajibs? When crimes are committed, a witness cannot tell who was under that big black tent thing. It could be a woman or man. To brainwash women into wearing those things as a "representation of their piety" is so degrading. If the men are so pious, why don't they walk around in those horrible, hot, blinding, degrading things? God made women beautiful to be seen by all. Not hidden by men who want to sickly control all their movements as if women can't be trusted and men can hardly keep themselves from raping them if the woman's face and figure are showing. That's just twisted thinking and warped beyond reason. And my thinking is not just because I grew up in a different culture, it is because I know warped control freak behavior when I see it. Using God to manipulate the vulnerable to justify an insidious agenda is more than wrong. that guy and his women are jokes. The whole multiple wives thing was a necessity a couple thousand years ago when the men were constantly dying at war and widows needed looking after but now it's just a reason for male sex addicts to have extra women. Many men in Muslim cultures are so fixated on sexual variety that their idea of heaven is not to spend it with their one true love but a whole harem of virgins. Doesn't sound like paradise for the women. In Muslim cultures, the women usually get the short end of the stick. For example - female circumcision! What whacko dreamed that up and why do they keep doing it? Warped. I don't believe that is in the Koran but it is part of their "beat down the women" culture. Obviously, Muslim men don't even know about the G spot or else they'd remove that too! Which would probably make it impossible for those women to have children if you ruined the V. But then again . . . we'd all be safer- I'm just sayin' less Muslims means less bombings in markets, trains, theaters and buildings sounds good to most people with common sense. They find it acceptable to trick the vulnerable into thinking that you can make yourself a martyr by killing yourself while killing others. Which by definition- that is not what makes a martyr. You can only be martyred if someone else murders you while you are witnessing your faith. France is starting to grow a bit of a spine once again. They are a wonderful country in so many ways and I applaud them for using good common sense for the safety of the population.

brandshops5566 (not verified) - Tue, 11/29/2011 - 04:49

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Anonyme (not verified) - Fri, 11/25/2011 - 04:23

Toelrance is the virtue of men with no values. How's that multi-culturalism working out for you? You bleed yourselves dry fighting WW II because you wouldn't stand up to Hitler when defeating him would have been easy and now you're doing it all over again after you figure out that the colonials aren't so willing to adopt your culture. You'd be better of allowing immigrants form South America. At least they have a Christian background and would quickly adapt to the misoginistic culture of France as they practice it in South America also. It is a shame to watch France commit suicide.

Anonyme (not verified) - Tue, 11/22/2011 - 22:51

A true Muslim would not own a dog. He is playing at being a Muslim so he can have more welfare and more sex.

Anonyme (not verified) - Tue, 11/22/2011 - 21:07

Freedom of religion, freedom of expression and human rights are core western values that everyone (including Sarkozy) should respect in western and french cultures. No matter, if some of the islamic countries do not respect them, it is no an reason for a western country to persecute muslim women. Burkha users GO on fighting against religious persecution and clothing censorship.

Anonyme (not verified) - Tue, 11/22/2011 - 17:54

this is the story of one man. he is in the press because of his unusual dealings. so why judge a whole demographic by one man's flaws? people flee algeria due to insurmountable problems- ALOT of them brought by colonialism. Its ignorant to think a nation can occupy another (forcefully) and just leave without facing grave repurcussions. There will be repurcussions- in this case mass migration.

Anonyme (not verified) - Tue, 11/22/2011 - 16:31

we have people like that all over Saudi Arabia. a beard could get you through a whole a lot of situations. more than what you think! (prostitution, fraud, traffic violations, corruption...) they are bullying French muslims. they don't represent them. deport the bastard!

View Point (not verified) - Tue, 11/22/2011 - 10:33

Let's reverse it then: what would happen if a French woman, or man for that fact, flaunted their sexuality in a muslim country? As a foreigner I would say everyone needs to respect the culture of the country that has given them refuge or taken them in. My conclusion to Europe, having lived here for 4-years, is that it has struggled for its entire history defining its cuisine, language and borders (way-of-life/ culture), simply because we are now supposed to be culturally diverse and accepting doesn't mean it is possible to change instantly something that has taken hundreds of years to define - identity.

George (not verified) - Tue, 11/22/2011 - 08:48

It is more than high time to stand up and say no. THere are countries where such practices are imposed. Salafists would like to make France a Saria state and if this continues will eventually have the number to attempt it. The problem as I see it is these immigrants did not come to France to be French. They came to profit from a generous welfare system. Very much unlike past immigration to the US. In the states if you are on welfare in the first five years, you pack your bags and go home.

Dave (not verified) - Tue, 11/22/2011 - 02:16

I'm so sorry for France. She was once the shining light of Europe and now it has become an Islamic Hellhole. There is nothing but civil war in France's future. Kosovo was only the start of Europe's Islamic land annexation.