Will Adel Kehlaoui leave the national territory this Friday, December 20? “I’m scared. I don’t want to leave my wife alone”he complains in a corner of the office of his lawyer, Me Don Georges Pintrel, who summoned the press.
This Tunisian national in a regular situation, holder of a long-term residence permit, is the subject of an expulsion order issued by the prefectural services on October 8. The State representative estimates that this 53-year-old facade worker, in Corsica since 2002, represents “a serious and present threat to public order”.
To support his decision, he cites three convictions, including one in 2006 for concealment, but above all two convictions for violence committed against his wife. In 2019, Adel Kehlaoui was given an 18-month suspended prison sentence for violence causing “incapacity for work not exceeding 8 days”. In 2021, the judges this time punished him with 6 months and placed him under electronic surveillance.
“He never laid a hand on me again.”
“These are not facts that I can approve of”insists his counsel Me Pintrel, who believes at the same time that“there is domestic violence and domestic violence”. “It happened in a couple who immediately reconciled”he defends.
The couple puts forward confusing explanations. The person concerned states that he had consumed alcohol at the time of the events. His wife, who never filed a complaint, mentions “stress” which was his when he arrived in France in 2019. “I didn’t speak French well. My husband went to work and I didn’t go out (she is now a home helper, editor’s note)”she explains. In a sob, she also speaks of her son who remained in Tunisia and claims to have herself “makes a fight“.
The one who constantly begs for her husband to stay in Corsica with her, has also written certificates for the attention of the prefecture. “I love my husband (…). Since he appeared in court, he has understood his lesson perfectly and has never raised a hand against me again”she writes, in French that is more assured than spoken.
A family reunification procedure in progress
For Me Pintrel, the prefecture’s decision does not take into account the consequences of this expulsion on Adel Kehlaoui’s family. In this regard, the expulsion order in his view disregards European law. The couple claims a kafala (equivalent to an adoption in Muslim law) in progress between Adel Kehlaoui and his wife’s son, as well as a family reunification procedure which would have been validated by the authorities. According to the couple, a social worker went to their home to check that their accommodation met the necessary criteria to accommodate this 15-year-old teenager.
The lawyer filed an appeal (non-suspensive) before the administrative court (TA) of Bastia, as well as a second summary appeal for which his client was dismissed. He also deplores that the prefecture did not take into account the unfavorable opinion given in July by the expulsion commission, according to which Adel Kehlaoui “does not constitute a serious threat to public order”.
“The Human Rights League cannot accept violence against women. But we are breaking something”estimates André Paccou, president of the LDH in Corsica. “All this is a pretext to implement recent circulars and make figures, under pressure from an electorate who votes to the extreme right, and by playing with public opinion”he castigates. Briefly placed in administrative detention, Adel Kehlaoui was released at the request of the judge of freedoms and detention (JLD). Contacted, the prefecture sticks to the facts alleged against Adel Kehlaoui and recalls that he is “summoned for expulsion on December 20”.
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