Why Did Pig Heads With Macron's Name Show Up At Mosques In France And What Does It Mean?

Last Updated:September 10, 2025, 14:34 IST

The act has raised concerns over rising anti-Muslim sentiment in the country as pork is considered ‘haram’ (forbidden) in Islam

The Islah mosque, in Montreuil, Seine-Saint-Denis, on the outskirts of Paris, was one of the mosques where pigs' heads were discovered. (AFP/Getty Images)

Paris woke up to a rude shock on Tuesday when severed pig heads—some inscribed with President Emmanuel Macron’s name—were discovered outside at least nine mosques across France’s capital and its suburbs.

Speaking to The Guardian, Paris police chief Laurent Nunez confirmed that four of the pig heads were found outside mosques within the city proper, while five were placed at mosques in neighbouring suburbs. Several of the heads were scrawled with the name “Macron" in blue ink.

The act has raised concerns over rising anti-Muslim sentiment in the country as pork is considered ‘haram’ (forbidden) in Islam. Calling the incident “despicable", Nunez said authorities had launched an investigation under the charge of “incitement to hatred aggravated by racial or religious discrimination".

As part of outreach, President Macron met with Muslim community leaders to offer support, while interior minister Bruno Retailleau described the acts as “outrageous" and “absolutely unacceptable". The Guardian quoted the rector of the Grand Mosque of Paris, Chems‑Eddine Hafiz, as calling the pig heads an “Islamophobic act" and “a new and sad stage in the rise of anti‑Muslim hatred".

A Symbolic Act

Throwing pork—or placing pig parts like heads or entrails—into or near a mosque is often used in Islamophobic attacks to intimidate, offend, or desecrate spaces considered sacred by Muslims. According to the Quran, pigs and pork are strongly associated with impurity in Islamic theology and practice and thus Muslims are prohibited from consuming or even handling pork.

Rising Anti-Muslim Incidents in France

As per Firstpost, data from France’s interior ministry indicates that reported anti-Muslim incidents rose by 75 per cent between January and May 2025 compared to the previous year, with personal attacks tripling during that period. Experts have also observed a broader uptick in religiously motivated hate across Europe, particularly since the Israel–Hamas conflict began in October 2023.

The Collective Against Islamophobia in Europe (CCIE) recorded 1,037 anti-Muslim incidents in 2024—significantly higher than the official Interior Ministry count of 173. The disparity raises concerns about underreporting and systemic gaps in tracking such incidents.

From January to March 2025 alone, 79 anti-Muslim acts were logged: a 72 per cent increase over the same period in 2024.

Apoorva Misra

Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. S...Read More

Apoorva Misra is News Editor at News18.com with over nine years of experience. She is a graduate from Delhi University's Lady Shri Ram College and holds a PG Diploma from Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. S...

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