Several left-wing political leaders denounced this Wednesday, November 15, “hatred against Muslims” and “racism,” after threatening tags targeted a mosque in Pessac in the Bordeaux suburbs at the beginning of November.
The violence of the hate tags found on the night of November 4 to 5 on the facades of the Pessac mosque (Gironde) caused the political class to react this Wednesday, November 15. The day before, the president of the association which manages this place of worship, Abdourahmane Ridouane, had denounced an “abject death threat from the fascist against the faithful of the Pessac mosque”, by posting on Facebook a photo of a tag – “your coffins or your suitcases” – written on the gates during the night of November 5.
“This is the fourth time in two years” that this mosque has been targeted in this way, Abdourahmane Ridouane denounced this Wednesday, denouncing a “climate of hatred which is fueled by all the controversies about Islam and Muslims” . “I give all my support to the faithful of the Pessac mosque who suffer racist acts,” responded the Minister responsible for Equality between women and men and the fight against discrimination, Bérangère Couillard. The Republic guarantees freedom of conscience and worship. The security of our fellow citizens of the Muslim faith will be ensured in the face of threats.”
I give all my support to the faithful of the mosque of #Pessac who suffer racist acts.
The Republic guarantees freedom of conscience and worship. The security of our fellow citizens of the Muslim faith will be ensured in the face of threats. https://t.co/k0Be67u8fE
— Bérangère Couillard (@BCouillard33) November 15, 2023
“For the fourth time, the Pessac mosque has been desecrated. Fourth time. How many Islamophobic attacks? How many unpunished? Places and freedom of worship must be respected and protected. It is the guarantee of secularism of the rule of law,” Jean-Luc Mélenchon, the leader of La France Insoumise, also reacted on X (formerly Twitter). “Abject. The Pessac mosque is still subject to threats and racism against our Muslim compatriots,” declared LFI deputy François Ruffin. Among the socialists, deputy Jérôme Guedj called, “faced with demonstrations of hatred against Muslims, to let nothing pass”. “Intolerable. Inadmissible. The extreme right in its works,” also denounced the first secretary of the Socialist Party, Olivier Faure.
The Pessac mosque had previously been targeted by hateful inscriptions in March, as well as in October 2022, with tags calling for “nationalist revenge” and to obtain “justice for Lola”, a 12-year-old schoolgirl killed in Paris by an Algerian national. Complaints were filed each time, according to the head of this mosque. Its temporary closure in 2022 by the authorities, who suspected it of spreading “a Salafist ideology”, was canceled by the administrative court and then the Council of State.
2023-11-15 21:13:10
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