"The violation of 148 tombs of French Muslims in the military cemetery of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette, the last weekend, is a despicable act of racism". It has been stated from Strasbourg by Terry Davis, secretary general of the Council of Europe. "The French authorities and the public opinion have reacted with strength and conviction he goes on -: we should congratulate them on their prompt response. However, the lesson we all have to learn about vandalism against the Muslim, Jewish or any other community, in France as well as in the rest of Europe, is that condemning such actions, no matter how energetically, is not enough". Davis thinks we must "act to prevent, within our societies, Islam-phobia, anti-Semitism and any other form of racism. Respecting the memory of those who died is our joint responsibility, as Europeans". The violation of the tombs, which hold the remains of the veterans of the First World War of Islamic faith, has been aggravated by the abuse hurled at the French Minister of Justice, Rachida Dati, originally from Maghreb. "Let’s defend such memory concludes Davis by protecting the right and dignity of every community, by refusing hatred and encouraging tolerance".
