Paris condemns desecration of graves of Muslim soldiers who fought for France
Regional-France, Local, 8/9/2004

French president Jacques Chirac strongly condemned on Friday the desecration of 15 tombs where Muslim soldiers who fought for France are buried in Strasbourg, northeast France.

Swatiskas and neo-nazi graffiti were painted on the tombs of these Muslim soldiers who fought for France during World War II.

Chirac interrupted his holidays to express, in a letter to president of the regional council of Muslim religion, "strong resolve" to fight the phenomenon and punish the authors of the coward desecration.

"I strongly reiterate that insulting the memory of soldiers, notwithstanding their religion, who gave their life for the homeland is a serious offend to all the French," Chirac wrote.

Home, security and local freedoms minister, Dominique de Villepin, also vowed that authors of this act will be brought to justice.

A rally will be held this Saturday afternoon at the cemetery in which are buried 5,483 soldiers killed during the two world wars.

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