Threatening messages sent to two mosques in France

Two mosques have received threatening messages following the death of a teenager named Thomas, who was stabbed last week in the country's Drome department.

MUSLIMS TARGETED

According to a statement made by French lawyer Nabil Boudi on the social media platform X, a threatening message containing a caricature insulting the Prophet was sent to a mosque in the city of Valence, located in Drome. The words "A good Muslim is a dead Muslim. Justice for Thomas" were written under the caricature.

Meanwhile, the words "Death to Arabs" and "Justice for Thomas" were written on the wall of a mosque in the city of Cherbourg-en-Cotentin in the north of the country.

FRENCH OFFICIALS REACT TO THREATS

While an investigation has been launched into the graffiti on the wall of the Cherbourg mosque, Cherbourg-en-Cotentin Mayor Benoit Arrive described the attack as a "vile, racist act." Valence Mayor Nicolas Daragon also issued a written statement regarding the threatening message sent to the city's mosque.

MESSAGE OF CONDEMNATION

Noting that there are those who want to provoke society, Daragon pointed out that this only increases tensions and divisions within the community.

Daragon stated, "Now more than ever, we must act together effectively for calm, national unity, and respect for everyone."

On the other hand, a group of about 60 far-right protesters took to the streets at night in the city of Romans-sur-Isere, where the murdered teenager resided. Carrying iron bars and fireworks, the far-right group chanted slogans such as "Islam out of Europe."

16 PEOPLE DETAINED

Thomas Portes, a member of parliament from the La France Insoumise (LFI) party, stated on the social media platform X that two mosques had been the target of racist threats in the last 48 hours. Portes stated that there had been attempts to raid minority groups in two cities in the country during the same period, and accused the media and politicians of emboldening the far-right. The French MP underscored that this situation is dangerous.

Pointing out that the far-right groups in Romans-sur-Isere are trying to fuel hatred against Muslims, Portes said, "We must stop them."

WHAT HAPPENED?

Residents of the village of Crepol had gathered at the town hall for a winter ball on the night of November 18, when a fight broke out for unknown reasons in the ballroom, resulting in 16-year-old Thomas being stabbed to death and 18 others being injured.

Authorities had stated that they did not believe the attackers, who stormed the hall where more than 400 people were present and subsequently injured many, were acting with a political or religious motivation.

The Valence Public Prosecutor's Office had launched an investigation into the incident. On November 21, 9 suspects linked to the event were detained on charges of "murder" and "attempted collective murder." The Valence Public Prosecutor's Office reported that among those detained, a 20-year-old Frenchman was the main suspect in Thomas's death.