UN Condemns Rise in Anti-Muslim Attacks Across French Cities

In Rennes, the exterior walls of an Islamic cultural center were covered with anti-Muslim graffiti last Sunday, while the door of the Rennes mosque was destroyed by arson.

The Le Mans mosque would have completed the picture if this 24-year-old man close to the neo-Nazi movement had not been prevented from doing so. He was indicted on Friday, following his threats to attack this place of worship. The Avicenne Muslim cultural center in the same city was covered with racist and Islamophobic insults.

These are "despicable acts" that constitute "an affront to the international laws on human rights and the values and principles of the United Nations, in particular freedom of religion or belief," condemned the High Representative, in a press release, calling for unity and solidarity.

He also expects the leaders and stakeholders concerned to support the implementation of the recommendations of the United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) Plan for the protection of religious sites. Everyone must be able to freely and safely practice the rituals of their religions or beliefs," hammered the UNAOC chief, who expressed his solidarity with the Muslim community in France and beyond, while wishing them a good and peaceful Ramadan.

Judicial investigations have been opened to find out more about these acts perpetrated before the start of Ramadan.