‘Cowardly Act’: Arson Attempt Targets Muslim Prayer Room in Eastern France
The incident occurred on the evening of August 14, when paper flyers were set alight and placed at the entrance of the prayer room, according to BFMTV. Passersby quickly extinguished the flames, limiting damage to slight blackening of the door.
Local police in Montbard have opened an investigation into “voluntary damage by fire.” No arrests have been reported so far.
Roland Lemaire, the town’s mayor, described the attack as criminal and “unacceptable,” noting that the damage was minimal but the intent alarming, as reported by La Dépêche.
France’s Interior Minister Bruno Retailleau condemned the incident on social media and expressed solidarity with those affected. “Last night in Châtillon-sur-Seine, individuals attempted to set fire to a Muslim prayer hall. My thoughts are with the worshippers affected by this deeply cowardly anti-Muslim act,” he wrote on X.
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The representative of the local Muslim community confirmed that a formal complaint will be filed. Similar attempts had reportedly occurred in recent months, raising concerns of repeated targeting.
Civil rights groups also reacted. The Council on American–Islamic Relations (CAIR) called the attack “hateful” and warned of the broader climate of anti-Muslim hostility across Europe.
“French leaders must stop engaging in the kind of rhetoric that emboldens and inspires these kinds of hateful attacks,” said Ibrahim Hooper, the organization’s communications director.
The attempted arson comes amid rising concern about Islamophobia in France. French authorities have reported a sharp rise in anti-Muslim incidents in 2025. Between January and May, 145 acts were recorded, a 75% increase compared to the same period last year. Attacks on individuals more than tripled, rising from 32 to 99, and now make up the majority of cases.
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The surge follows several high-profile incidents, including the fatal stabbing of a young Malian man inside a mosque in southern France in April. Rights groups and community leaders have urged the government to respond more forcefully to a troubling rise in anti-Muslim violence and hate speech.
Source: Agencies
