News Agencies – August 1, 2012
Two pig heads were found hanging at the entrance of a mosque in southern France on August 1st, in the latest incident of what Muslim leaders say is rising Islamophobia in the country. The mayor of Montauban denounced what she described as intimidation of Muslims after the heads were discovered in the early morning attached to two pillars at the entrance of the Salam Mosque, a huge pool of blood on the ground. Pigs are considered unclean by Muslims, who are forbidden from eating pork.
Police have opened an investigation. Muslim leaders said the vandalism was especially shocking because it happened during the holy month of Ramadan. It was the first such incident in Montauban, near the city of Toulouse. In 2009, pig feet were hung on a mosque in Castres, also in southern France, and a Nazi swastika was painted on its walls along with racist and nationalist slogans.
