Former Muslim Worship Site in Northeastern France Vandalized

Former Muslim Worship Site in Northeastern France Vandalized
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Authorities have not yet identified those responsible for the recent vandalism of a former Muslim place of worship in northeastern France, Anadolu Agency reported.

The building, located in L’Hopital near Saint-Avold in the Moselle region, was previously managed by the Muslim association Les Amis du peuple méditerranéen. Although it has not been used as a mosque since 2021 due to safety concerns, the association still owns the property.

Reports indicate that the site was ransacked, with copies of the Holy Quran desecrated, swastika graffiti sprayed on the walls, and evidence of attempted arson discovered. Prayer rugs were torn apart, furniture overturned, and items such as gas bottles, tires, and gasoline-filled jerrycans were found, suggesting an effort to set the building on fire. The association had not visited the site for three weeks prior to May 27, so the exact timing of the attack remains unclear.

Police forensic teams are investigating, and a formal complaint has been filed. Tristan Atmania, a municipal councilor, condemned the act as a “vile racist attack” that threatens social cohesion and called for the perpetrators to be held accountable. Mayor Emmanuel Schuler described the incident as “unacceptable and intolerable.”

The attack has sparked widespread outrage on social media and raises concerns amid a rise in anti-Muslim incidents in France. Just last month, a 22-year-old Malian national, Aboubakar Cisss, was fatally stabbed inside the Khadija mosque in La Grand-Combe, further alarming Muslim communities nationwide.