Vandalism at Future Mosque Site in Northern France Sparks Investigation

Ceilings torn off, electrical cables cut, lighting fixtures broken... The premises of the Al Amal association, which intends to build and then operate a Muslim cultural and religious center in Wattignies (Nord), were vandalized during the night of Friday, March 17 to Saturday, March 18 as Muslims are in search of a place of prayer for Ramadan, reports France 3. A demonstration was also held on Saturday in front of the town hall of Wattignies in this regard.

"It looks like they had the plans: they went down to the basement and tore off the wires from the electrical box to deactivate the alarm and the cameras," explains a spokesman for Al Amal to the same media. For the mayor, it is "an Islamophobic act". "The act of vandalism is scandalous, shameful. We can’t do things like that," he protests.

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Since 2019, the project to develop the premises of the future place of worship has been suffering. Four building permit applications have been rejected by the town hall and the prefecture in recent years. The Al Amal association has filed an urgent application for suspension with the administrative court to challenge the latest refusal of a building permit. Pending the conclusions of the ongoing investigation, the mayor is trying to find a solution concerning the loan of a room for the month of Ramadan.