The Ministry of the Interior strengthens the security of Muslim places of worship as Ramadan approaches

Extreme vigilance as Ramadan approaches, which should begin Sunday or Monday. The Minister of the Interior asked the prefects that “all Muslim places of worship” in France are protected “in static by the police”. Gérald Darmanin calls for “a reinforced presence of security forces at the arrival and departure times of the faithful during gatherings and services” in a note sent Wednesday March 6. It emphasizes “the most sensitive and emblematic places and buildings (…) in coordination with the forces of Operation Sentinel”.

The Minister of the Interior also called for paying particular attention to the celebrations of the night of destiny, around April 5, and the Eid el-Fitr festival, which marks the end of Ramadan, on the 9th or 10th. april. Gérald Darmanin recalled “the high level of the terrorist threat which continues to weigh on our country, as well as the persistence of tensions at the international level, particularly in the context of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict [qui] demand the maintenance of extreme vigilance, particularly with regard to demonstrations and places of a religious nature”.

This security occurs “in a context of increase in anti-Muslim acts during the year 2023 (+30%)”. In the context of the conflict between Israel and Hamas, the Minister of the Interior revealed, in November, the number of anti-Semitic, anti-Muslim and anti-Christian acts committed in 2023. A figure which is rising sharply but must be taken with caution. tweezers.