PARIS: At the least 9 pigs’ heads have been discovered outdoors a number of mosques within the Paris area on Tuesday (Sep 9), the town’s police chief mentioned – an incident that has sparked alarm over rising anti-Muslim hatred.
“Pigs’ heads have been left in entrance of sure mosques … 4 in Paris and 5 within the interior suburbs,” Laurent Nunez advised a press convention, including that officers weren’t “ruling out the potential for discovering extra”.
Police have opened a probe into incitement to hatred aggravated by racial or non secular discrimination, Nunez mentioned, calling the acts “despicable”.
The consumption of pork is taken into account haram – forbidden in Islam – because the meat is believed to be impure.
A number of of the heads had the surname of President Emmanuel Macron scrawled on them in blue ink, the Paris prosecutor’s workplace advised AFP.
Nunez mentioned there might be parallels with previous incidents linked to “international interference” however urged “excessive warning”.
In early June, three Serbs have been charged over the vandalism of Jewish websites in a case investigators suspect was backed by Russia.
France is house to the most important Muslim group within the European Union, in addition to the most important Jewish inhabitants outdoors Israel and america.
A number of EU nations have reported a spike in “anti-Muslim hatred” and antisemitism because the Gaza war started in October 2023, in accordance with the European Union Company for Elementary Rights.
Anti-Muslim incidents in France rose by 75 per cent between January and Might 2025 in contrast with a yr earlier, with assaults on people tripling, the inside ministry mentioned in July.
Fighters from Palestinian organisation Hamas launched an assault in Israel from Gaza on Oct 7, 2023. Israel has responded with a relentless assault on the Hamas-run Gaza Strip.
“ANTI-MUSLIM HATRED”
The incidents round Paris drew swift condemnation from political and group leaders.
Macron met with representatives of the Muslim group within the capital following the incident to precise his “help”, his workplace advised AFP.
Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo mentioned the town had taken authorized motion, denouncing the “racist acts”.
For his half, Inside Minister Bruno Retailleau known as the deeds “outrageous” and “completely unacceptable”.
“I would like our Muslim compatriots to have the ability to practise their religion in peace,” he mentioned.
Chems-Eddine Hafiz, the rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, denounced the “Islamophobic acts” as “a brand new and unhappy stage within the rise of anti-Muslim hatred”.
Bassirou Camara, head of anti-discrimination group Addam, advised AFP he feared an escalation.
“Now we have been elevating the alarm for months and we’re not being heard,” Camara mentioned.
“What would be the subsequent step? Throwing pigs’ heads at worshippers or bodily assaulting them?”
Exterior one of many affected mosques, a 40-year-old former affiliation director, who spoke on situation of anonymity, laid flowers to indicate “solidarity and help”.
“Folks should not have to cover their religion,” she mentioned.
Comparable incidents have focused mosques and Muslim associations elsewhere in France in recent times, together with a pig’s head left outdoors a Muslim affiliation within the northern Pas-de-Calais area in 2024.
