Meskine has been treated as an important figure in Franco-Islamic relations and interior minister Nicolas Sarkozy who has apparently consulted him in the past.
[1] On June 19, 2006 it was announced Imam Meskine and his son were arrested for laundering money linked to a terrorist organization.
Many members of the French Islamic community saw the arrest as a provocation meant to interfere with state funding to the al-Najah Muslim High school.
Some have linked the event to his criticism of the policies of Nicolas Sarkozy.
[1] 17 other French citizens have been arrested in the operation.