A boar’s head was discovered Thursday March 28, 2024 by worshipers at the Contrexéville mosque in the Vosges. It was hanging on a door of the building. An investigation for “provocation of racial hatred” was opened by the Epinal public prosecutor.
A boar’s head was discovered Thursday March 28, 2024 near a mosque in Contrexéville (Vosges). It was worshipers of the Attawba mosque who found him in front of the religious building just before morning prayers. “It was a carcass in an advanced state of decomposition, hung with a string on a door” specifies Mohamed Akouh, president of the Contrexéville mosque, speaking to France 3 Lorraine, “it is a despicable, intolerable and Islamophobic act. This act does not only affect an individual, but the entire mosque, a cult that represents Islam“.
The mosque has now been welcoming worshipers from Contrexéville and surrounding areas for two years. “The first year we had racist tags with swastikas and insults, but never such an act” continues Mohamed Akouh.
The mayor of Contrexéville, Luc Gerecke, was quickly informed. “We did not seek to immediately publicize the matter” he explains. “L‘The idea, at first, was to remain discreet to allow investigators to use small details that we were able to collect. This is an act that I condemn. I think it’s an isolated act. Contrexéville has been a very cosmopolitan city for decades. Here, we are dealing with outdated and unacceptable imagery.“.
We trust the justice system, public authorities and law enforcement to find the person(s) responsible for this act.
Mohamed Akouh, president of the Contrexéville mosque
The animal’s head was discovered in the middle of Ramadan, the month of fasting, prayers and sharing for Muslims which began on March 11. “The whole community is shocked, but we remain calm, united and serene to defend freedom of worship“, insists Mohamed Akouh. “We must not respond to provocation, but rather fight together against all forms of discrimination and intolerance. We trust the justice system, public authorities and law enforcement to find the person(s) responsible for this act.“.
An investigation for “incitement to racial hatred” was opened by the Epinal public prosecutor, Frédéric Nahon. The case was escalated to the government. “This weekend, the mosques of Valenciennes and Fresnes-sur-Escaut were damaged. A mosque in the Vosges was also targeted. I strongly condemn these unacceptable acts against our Muslim compatriots“, said on X (ex-Twitter) the Minister of the Interior, Gérald Darmanin.