Elham Asaad Buaras
French Muslim leaders have condemned a serious Islamophobic attack after copies of the Qur’an were torn and scattered during a break-in at a mosque in south-central France. The desecration, discovered on November 30 in the town of Le Puy-en-Velay, follows another recent incident targeting a Turkish cultural centre, amplifying concerns over a rising tide of anti-Muslim hostility.
According to the French Council of the Muslim Faith (CFCM), an individual forced entry into the mosque in the Haute-Loire department, leaving damaged Qur’ans strewn across the prayer hall. In a statement, the council said the Muslim community was “deeply shocked and hurt” by the violation and warned that such acts risk multiplying within an increasingly “toxic climate” fuelled by divisive public debates and stigmatising rhetoric.
While no physical injuries were reported, the CFCM emphasised that the desecration of the Islamic holy text inside a place of worship constitutes a particularly grave offense. It labelled the break-in “a serious Islamophobic act” that reflects a level of hostility which “must not be underestimated.”
The incident occurred shortly after a separate attack on November 26 at the Montreal-la-Cluse Cultural Centre, which is affiliated with the Turkish-Islamic Union for Religious Affairs (DITIB). The organisation reported finding a bullet, apparently from a firearm, in the centre’s mailbox. DITIB condemned what it called an attempt to “undermine the practice of living together and disrupt an atmosphere of serenity,” adding that legal proceedings have been initiated.
Both cases have been reported to French authorities. They unfold against a backdrop of renewed national debate over secularism and integration, with several Muslim organizations warning of escalating hostility and a marked deterioration in the social climate for French Muslims.
(Photo credit: Le Puy-en-Velay Mosque)
