French authorities have opened an investigation after nine graves in the Muslim section of a cemetery in Puy-en-Vau were vandalised. A visitor noticed the damage to his father’s grave and reported it to police, Le Parisien reported. The incidents are believed to have occurred around a week ago.
The attack is the latest in a series of Islamophobic acts across France. Muslim cemeteries and mosques have been repeatedly targeted, with vandals defacing graves and drawing the Cross of Lorraine on mosque walls.
Data from the French Interior Ministry shows a sharp rise in anti-Muslim incidents. Between January and May 2025, authorities recorded 145 acts, up from 83 in the same period in 2024. Physical assaults now account for more than two-thirds of these incidents, including the fatal attack on Aboubakar Cissé in a southern mosque last year.
Under French law, desecrating graves is punishable by up to one year in prison and a €15,000 fine, rising to three years and €45,000 if motivated by religion or ethnicity.
The recent vandalism highlights ongoing tensions and safety concerns for Muslim communities. Authorities have increased patrols around religious sites, and civil society groups continue to call for stronger protections and better reporting mechanisms.
The investigation in Puy-en-Vau is ongoing, with police working to identify the perpetrators.
