Five mosques in the metropolis of Orléans targeted by threatening letters

Five mosques in the metropolis of Orléans (Loiret) received threatening letters in mid-March, France Bleu Orléans learned on Thursday March 21 from the departmental council of Muslim worship of Loiret and the prefecture of Loiret. Complaints have been filed.

The letters were full of insults. The Saint-Jean-de-Braye mosque had already received a first letter, France Bleu Orléans revealed last weekend. But now a total of five religious buildings have received threats in the metropolis. The mosques of Saint-Jean-de-la-Ruelle, La Chapelle-Saint-Mesmin and two mosques in Orléans are also affected. “The letters are identical”, indicates Mustapha Ettaouzani, the president of the departmental council of Muslim worship of Loiret to France Bleu Orléans. “It’s the same letter, the same process, by post, and it dates from around March 13,” he specifies.

Muslims called “to be vigilant”

These letters also include a reference to the war between Israel and Hamas. “It is signed by the Israeli flag, or with a desire on the part of the author to stir up hatred between the communities. Because he knows very well that the Muslim community at the moment is very sensitive to the catastrophic situation in Gaza” , denounces Mustapha Ettaouzani who wants to say his “firm condemnation” in front of “this type of mail of an Islamophobic nature (…) loaded with hatred, contempt, which aims to intimidate or marginalize or attack a community on the basis of its faith“. According to him, “five complaints were filed” through mosques.

Muslims are in the middle of the month of Ramadan. Many of the faithful attend mosques and Mustapha Ettaouzani calls “members of the community to be vigilant” but to stay “serene”. He also requests police reinforcements at night, in front of places of worship. The prefect of Loiret condemned on the social network “with the greatest firmness the words and threats made”.