The interior minister has visited the mosque damaged by vandals and asked police to provide an increased nationwide presence around Muslim places of worship, especially during Ramadan. The most popular opposition politician, however, suggested that the interior minister should also raise his voice against acts of vandalism targeting Christian churches, in order to avoid accusations about using double standards.

After unknown vandals had damaged the Rennes Mosque, painting insults of the Prophet Muhammad on its front wall, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin ensured France s Muslim community of his full solidarity and support. Mr Darmanin rushed to the scene, where he stressed that acts against Muslims were attacks on the Republic and called on law enforcement officials to strengthen the protection of Muslim places of worship. The attack occurred two days before Ramadan, the most important Muslim holiday, and the interior minister was concerned that other incidents may take place during this period.

Mr Darmanin said he travelled to Rennes to demonstrate the French government s solidarity with Muslims living in the country. He emphasized that the anti-Muslim inscriptions were unacceptable, underlining that religious freedom in France is one of the fundamental civil liberties.

Marine Le Pen, the head of the right-wing National Rally, also condemned the incident at the mosque, stressing that vandalising any place of worship is inadmissible. Calling on the interior minister, she added, however, that in order to avoid accusations about using double standards, Mr Darmamin should also voice his outrage at the desecration of synagogues or Christian churches, and not just mosques.

With Ramadan commencing on 13 April this year, Mohammed Moussaoui, the head of the French Council of Muslim Faith (CFCM), has asked Muslims in France to comply with pandemic rules and called on mosques to suspend Friday prayers, if physical distancing and other precautions cannot be observed due to large crowds of people gathering to pray.