Fundraising Underway in Piera to Rebuild Mosque Damaged in Suspected Arson

Fundraising Underway in Piera to Rebuild Mosque Damaged in Suspected Arson
——————————-
A fundraising campaign has been launched in the town of Piera to rebuild the Ar-Rahman mosque, which suffered significant damage from a fire early Saturday morning, Iqna.ir reported. The campaign has raised over €61,000 of the €100,000 needed for reconstruction, with donations coming from local residents and community groups in this town of 18,000 people, according to the local source of the news: El País.

Said Alouchi, vice president of Piera’s Islamic community, described the fire as a severe blow. The community, largely composed of residents of Moroccan origin, had been saving for years to build a larger mosque. “With our own internal resources, it’s impossible for us to carry out the necessary repairs,” Alouchi said.

The fire severely damaged one of the mosque’s walls, and investigators discovered traces of accelerants, suggesting arson. Catalonia’s Minister of Interior, Núria Parlon, said the incident could be treated as a hate crime if intentionality is confirmed.

The mosque, established in 1998 and expanded a decade later, was close to completing its new building. Alouchi noted the attack occurred after 3 a.m. and was likely planned.

Mayor Carme González condemned the act, emphasizing that it does not reflect the peaceful coexistence of Piera’s Muslim community over many years. The investigation by local police continues.