Muslim prayer hall damaged, copies of Koran burnt in overnight rampage in Corsica

Tensions mounted in Ajaccio, Corsica’s largest city of some 65,000 residents, after a night of violence in Jardins de L’Empereur. Two firefighters and a police officers were injured in what the authorities described as ambushes by “several hooded youths” in the low-income neighborhood.

On Friday afternoon, some 150 demonstrators gathered in front of the police HQ in a show of support, AFP reported citing officials. But part of that crowd broke off and joined an estimated 600 people, who marched towards the housing estate where violence had occurred the night before. The crowd was shouting slogans in Corsican, such as: “Arabs get out!” and “This is our home!”

The angry demonstrators ransacked a nearby Muslim prayer house, smashing glass and partially burning some 50 books, including copies of the Koran.

Local police put five Muslim prayer houses in Ajaccio under protection and maintained a presence on the housing estate overnight, regional official Francois Lalanne told the news agency.

French officials condemned the violence in Corsica perpetrated by both those who attacked the firefighters and those who ransacked the prayer house. French Interior Minister Bernard Cazeneuve said the latter showed signs of “racism and xenophobia.” Local authorities pledged to arrest those responsible.

Anti-Muslim sentiment is rising in France in the wake of the terrorist attacks on November 13 in Paris that killed 130 people. The Islamic State terrorist group claimed responsibility for the violence in the French capital.

Corsica, a small Mediterranean island, has a long history of nationalistic movements, which occasionally lead to violence. Anti-immigrant and nationalist parties performed well during last month’s regional election, giving the department its first-ever nationalist government.

Source Article from https://www.rt.com/news/327126-corsica-anti-muslim-violence/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=RSS

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