Arson Attempt Targets Muslim Prayer Room in Eastern France
Arson Attempt Targets Muslim Prayer Room in Eastern France
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French authorities have launched an investigation into an attempted arson at a Muslim prayer hall, an act that officials have condemned as “cowardly” and “anti-Muslim,” Iqna.ir reported. The incident occurred on the evening of August 14 in the eastern French town of Châtillon-sur-Seine.
According to reports, paper flyers were set on fire at the entrance of the prayer room. The flames were quickly extinguished by passersby, resulting in only minor blackening of the door. The local police have opened an investigation into “voluntary damage by fire.”
The town’s mayor, Roland Lemaire, described the attack as “unacceptable.” France’s Interior Minister, Bruno Retailleau, also condemned the act on social media, expressing solidarity with the worshipers affected. The local Muslim community has confirmed that a formal complaint will be filed.
This incident comes amid a reported sharp rise in Islamophobic acts in France. French authorities have recorded a 75% increase in anti-Muslim incidents from January to May 2025 compared to the same period the previous year. Civil rights groups, including the Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR), have voiced concern about the broader climate of anti-Muslim hostility in Europe.
