AhlulBayt News Agency: An unidentified individual stole a Qur’an from a mosque near Lyon, France, and set it on fire, marking another incident in the rising wave of anti-Muslim hate crimes across the country.
According to a statement from the Council of Mosques of the Rhone (CMR), the perpetrator entered the prayer hall late Sunday night, burned a copy of the Qur’an, and left it outside the mosque in Villeurbanne before fleeing.
“This vile act is part of a series of hateful assaults that reflect a worrying and increasingly hostile climate towards Muslim citizens in France,” the CMR stated.
The council described the act as “Islamophobic” and carried out with “appalling cowardice.”
CMR also referenced recent violent attacks, including the April 25 stabbing of Aboubakar Cissé during prayers at a mosque and the fatal shooting of a Tunisian man by his neighbor on Saturday, emphasizing that the Qur’an burning occurred in a “particularly painful context.”
“We strongly condemn this heinous desecration, which is a grave violation of the dignity of worshippers and of the fundamental principles of our Republic, foremost among them being freedom of worship,” the council declared.
CMR urged authorities to identify the perpetrator and initiate “exemplary” legal proceedings.
“Now more than ever, it is our collective responsibility—of institutions, elected officials, and every citizen—to stand united against all forms of hatred, stigmatization, and violence targeting places of worship and believers, regardless of their faith,” the council added.
French police have launched an investigation into the incident.
France, home to the largest Muslim population in the EU, has witnessed a troubling surge in anti-Muslim attacks amid heightened political tensions.
A series of Qur’an burnings and similar desecrations of the Muslim holy book across Europe, including incidents in the summer of 2023 under the pretext of free speech, sparked widespread protests in Arab and Muslim countries, which issued strong condemnations of the offensive acts.
In response to these desecrations, a motion filed at the United Nations human rights body in July 2023 urged countries to review their laws and address gaps that may “impede the prevention and prosecution of acts and advocacy of religious hatred.”
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