France Muslim Community Condemns Mosque Occupation

Paris, Oct 21, IRNA – France Muslim community condemned occupation of a building site in the central French city of Poitiers where a mosque is under construction. The Muslim national umbrella organization, the French Muslim Council (CFCM), spoke of its 'strong indignation' and 'its deep concern in the face of this new form of anti-Muslim violence by Far Rights'. The occupation, it said, had been 'serious, savage and illegal, accompanied by slogans hostile to Islam and without precedent in the history' of France, which has the largest Muslim population in Europe, of between four and six million. Leftwing groups also called for the group responsible for the occupation to be dissolved. The International League against Racism and Anti-Semitism (Licra) called the occupation a 'demonstration of hate'” About 70 far-right activists occupied a building site in the central French city of Poitiers where a mosque is under construction for several hours Saturday, provoking angry criticism from political and religious leaders. The occupation started before dawn when demonstrators entered the site on the outskirts of the city where a large gray building with a minaret is being built. Climbing on to the roof they unfurled two banners, one identifying their organization, the other proclaiming 'Charles Martel beat the Arabs at Poitiers in 732'” That battle is credited with having halted the advance of Islam into Western Europe. Toward noon the activists agreed to leave and the evacuation was completed by 1 p.m. (1100 GMT). Four of the occupiers who said they were the organizers were held for questioning, the prosecutor’s office said. The rest underwent identity checks. French Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, who is in the Philippines, 'firmly' condemned a 'provocation that reveals an unacceptable religious hatred'” Interior Minister Manuel Valls also condemned 'hateful and inadmissible provocation' and the 'questionable confusion' of the group. The police have opened an inquiry into “an unauthorized demonstration, incitement to racial hatred, participation in a gathering with a view to carrying out joint damage.” 'Poitiers is in shock,' Alain Claeys, the mayor of the town of 90,000 inhabitants said. Extreme righting activists had come from all over France and seemed well organized with banners and computers, he said./end