Paris Mosque Vandalized

July 3, 2006

Source: Haaretz

Wire Service: AP

http://www.haaretz.com/hasen/spages/734168.html

On July 3, 2006 the Associated Press reported, "Vandals painted swastikas and anti-Muslim slogans on a mosque in the Parisian suburb of Courcouronnes, a mosque official said Monday.

Abderrahmane Ammari said 'extremists' attacked the walls of the mosque early Sunday, covering the exterior walls with slogans including 'Islam go home,' 'France is white' and 'We fight against Islam' early Sunday morning.

He said this was the second time in a little more than a year that vandals damaged the mosque of Evry-Courcouronne, located in a heavily immigrant town some 25 kilometers south of Paris.

Local officials 'responded very quickly,' removing most traces of the racist slurs soon after it was discovered, Ammari said.

'Everyone was mobilized and there was absolute cooperation' between officials at the mosque and local authorities, Ammari said."