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Rabat – Anti-Muslim and Islamophobic graffiti has been sprayed on the Pessac Mosque in Girone earlier this month, sparking growing fear among the Muslim community in France of a rise in hateful crimes.
The mosque’s association president Abdrourahmane Ridouane emphasized that this is the fourth wave of hate graffiti targeting the same mosque in less than two years.
“The anti-Islam tags included threats like ‘France for the French’ and ‘Your coffins or your suitcases’,” BMFTV reported on November 15.
The perpetrators also painted the Crosses of Lorraine, symbolizing the French resistance to the Nazi occupation in the 40s. The symbol is commonly used by some sympathizers of far-right causes in France, who peddle the Islamophobic arguments that Muslims are “invading France.”
“The threat is very clear. They are telling worshippers to leave the country, or they will end up in a coffin,” Ridouane lamented, stressing that he filed a new complaint against the Islamophobic act.
He also denounced, however, the “nonchalance and disinterest” of French authorities, stressing the lack of communication and action about his previous complaints.
According to BFMTV, Ridouan criticized the absence of a reinforced and permanent police presence on Fridays, which mark prayers that attract many Muslims.
“We were forced to improvise an internal organization with a rotation system by deploying two or three people with yellow vests that stand in front of the door during prayer and then take turns praying,” Ridouan added.
The new heinous Islamophobic vandalism against mosques is not the first of its kind.
In many cities across France, France’s Muslim communities have been overwhelmed by different racist attacks, including offensive comments on social media, and acts of vandalism or sabotage targeting mosques, cemeteries, and Muslim-run businesses.
