French Corsica Launches Anti-Racism Campaign

Corsica prefect Pierre-Rene Lemas, the highest French government official on the island, decided to champion a solidarity week, recognizing the need to create a better understanding among the multi-ethnic residents, reported Liberation newspaper on Tuesday, November 1.

He agreed with the representatives of the main faiths to organize the campaign on December 13-18 across the island, particularly in schools.

The meeting, held on November 29, was attended by President of the Presbyterian council of the Corsican reformed church Jean-Claude Alegre, Regional Council President of the Corsican Islamic Culture Miloud Mesgathi and the island’s Bishop Jean-Luc Brunin.

The representative of the Jewish community apologized for not attending over health problems.

The participants also brainstormed the best way to address increasing racist attacks on the island and increasing people’s awareness on their grave repercussions.

Mosque Protection

Prefect Lemas decided during the meeting to beef up security measures around mosques in the island, after a Muslim cultural centre and prayer hall in the southern Corsican town of Sartene was attacked on Saturday, November 27.

Unknown assailants fired several shots at the door and the bullets would have hit Imam Mohammad El-Atrache if he had not had the good sense to flattening himself against the wall.

Prefect Lemas decided during the meeting to beef up security measures around mosques in the island.

The CFCM has pressed for such a measure after the attack on Imam El-Atrache, especially that the assailants daubed a swastika and the slogan “Arabi For a” (Arabs Out in the Corsican language) on the walls of the prayer hall.

Spiraling Racism

Lemas regretted that at least 40 racist acts were reported in the French island since the beginning of the year, saying all residents must renounce violence and racism.

Corsica, which is home to a strong nationalist movement, has recently seen an upsurge in attacks on Arab and Muslim immigrants.

On May 22, 2004, the Moroccan flag was pulled out from the country’s consulate and set afire by unknown attackers.

A day later, a Moroccan owner of a meat shop was assaulted.

Several attacks also targeted shops owned by Moroccan immigrants on July 7.

On September 3, a house, owned by a Moroccan worker, was assaulted by attackers who daubed racist graffiti on the walls calling for the expulsion of Arab immigrants from the island.

On October 21, a prayer hall set ablaze by unknown assailants.

The island of Corsica and region of Île de France are home to the largest immigrants’ community in France where 26,000 immigrants reside, according to a study by the French national institute for statistics and economic studies.

Muslims of Moroccan origin make up half of the immigrants.

French experts and activists in the field of human rights have warned of the unprecedented escalation of Islamophobia and racism against Muslims in France, estimated at six million.

Several mosques in France have recently come under a string of racist attacks and arsons.

Last March, two mosques were hit by arson attacks in the two cities of Seynod and Annecy.