A severed pig’s head was discovered at the entrance of a mosque in Pont-Saint-Esprit, France, on Friday during morning prayers, French media reported. The Gard Prefecture confirmed that an investigation is underway, led by the Nîmes Public Prosecutor, to identify those responsible.
Mayor Valère Segal condemned the act as “horrible” and affirmed the city’s support for the Muslim community, vowing to strengthen communal bonds in the face of such provocations.
This incident is part of a broader pattern of attacks targeting Muslim places of worship in France. Earlier this year, a pig’s head was left at a mosque in Saint-Omer, and a similar act was reported in Bergerac in 2019.
Recent data from the Collective Against Islamophobia in Europe highlights a sharp rise in Islamophobic incidents in France, with 828 cases reported in 2023—a 57% increase from the previous year. Most incidents targeted Muslim women and were linked to education and workplace discrimination.
