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French Muslim graves defaced in Notre Dame de Lorette cemetery

Monday, 07 April 2008

French Muslim graves defaced in Notre Dame de Lorette cemetery

In the Notre Dame de Lorette war cemetery, which is the largest graveyard in France for WWI graves, vandals have defaced 148 Muslim graves, it has been reported.

The decapitated head of a pig was hung on a headstone and slogans insulting Islam and France's Muslim justice minister had also been painted in the attack at the Notre Dame de Lorette cemetery, which is situated near Arras in the north of France, and is on the site of some of WWI's largest battles.

French President Nicolas Sarkozy has described what has taken place as a "hateful act" and the "most inadmissible kind of racism".

Approximately 78,000 French colonial subjects, including many North African Muslims, lost their lives in the war.

As many as 100 police officers were sent out to investigate the crime, and French President Nicolas Sarkozy has said he wants the people responsible caught and punished as soon as possible.

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