Outrage as Holy Qur’an Burned and Left Outside French Mosque
An unknown individual has removed a Qur'an from a mosque near Lyon, France, and set it on fire, marking the latest in a growing trend of anti-Muslim hate crimes in the European nation.
The Council of Mosques of the Rhone has reported that an individual intruded into a prayer hall in Villeurbanne late Sunday night. The culprit reportedly set fire to a copy of the Qur’an and left it outside the mosque before making an escape.
The CMR has condemned the incident as part of a troubling escalation of hostile attacks targeting Muslim individuals in France, highlighting a concerning and increasingly adversarial environment.
The statement described the action as inherently “Islamophobic” and characterized it as an act of “appalling cowardice.”
The CMR highlighted recent violent incidents, such as the stabbing death of Aboubakar Cissé during mosque prayers on April 25 and the fatal shooting of a Tunisian man by his neighbor on Saturday. The organization noted that the Qur’an burning took place in a “particularly painful context.”
In a statement, the act was strongly denounced as an egregious violation of worshippers’ dignity and the core principles of the Republic, particularly emphasizing the fundamental right to freedom of worship.
Authorities have been urged to promptly identify the perpetrator and commence “exemplary” legal proceedings.
The CMR emphasized the urgent necessity for unity among institutions, elected officials, and citizens in confronting and condemning hatred, stigmatization, and violence directed towards places of worship and individuals of all faiths.
Authorities have launched an inquiry into the matter.
France, home to the largest Muslim community in the European Union, has witnessed a concerning increase in anti-Muslim incidents as political tensions escalate.
Throughout the summer of 2023, a wave of incidents involving the burning and desecration of the Qur’an swept across Europe, ostensibly justified as acts of free speech. These actions have incited widespread outrage and protests across numerous Arab and Muslim nations, accompanied by strong denouncements of the affront to their religious sentiments.
In July 2023, a motion submitted to the United Nations Human Rights Council in response to recent desecrations urged member states to reassess their legal frameworks. The motion advocates for closing legal loopholes that could hinder efforts to prevent and prosecute acts of religious hatred and their promotion.
