France Heightens Security Around Mosques as Ramadan Approaches

In a telegram sent on Thursday, February 27, Bruno Retailleau called on prefects and security officials to be "extremely vigilant" as the month of Ramadan, which is to begin on March 1, 2025, approaches. "The high level of the terrorist threat that continues to weigh on our country as well as the persistence of tensions at the international level require the maintenance of extreme vigilance, particularly with regard to events and places of a religious nature," Bruno Retailleau argued.

The minister demonstrates the validity of his approach. "Ramadan, the sacred month of fasting for Muslims, should begin on Saturday, March 1 and end on Sunday, March 30, 2025. Widely followed by the faithful, it is likely to generate significant gatherings of people on public roads, particularly around Muslim places of worship," he continued.

Retailleau also asked the officials to pay attention to "the offices and gatherings that will take place" throughout Ramadan, particularly "the Night of Destiny," which marks the beginning of the revelation of the Quran by the Prophet Muhammad and which should take place on the night of March 26, as well as Eid Al-Fitr, which marks the end of the month of Ramadan and which should take place around March 31.

Last year, his predecessor Gérald Darmanin made the same call to the prefects. In a note, he had demanded "a reinforced presence of the security forces at the arrival and departure times of the faithful during the gatherings and offices," with a focus on "the most sensitive and emblematic places and buildings [...] in coordination with the forces of the Sentinelle operation." The Minister of the Interior had also sent similar directives during the All Saints’ Day celebrations or the end-of-year festivities. For him, "[...] freedom of worship is nothing without the protection of the State."