Islamophobia in France on the rise: Muslim body head

Islamophobic attacks in France are on the rise, French Council of Muslim Faith President Anouar Kbibeche said Monday.

In remarks made during the 33rd French Council of the Muslim Faith conference in the French city of Le Bourget Monday, Kbibeche said: "The increase in Islamophobia has come after attacks in France last year."

"Attacks on Muslim sanctuaries have gone up despite increase in security measures. A small mosque in Ajaccio has recently been damaged. Apart from this, a number of attacks have also been launched on individual Muslims."

The council's Vice-President, Ahmet Ogras, urged Muslims to make their voices heard.

"We are elements of this society as Muslims in France. We should be able to express our opinions and join political parties. We need to increase power of representation of Muslims by expressing ourselves," Ogras added.

Amar Lasfar, Union of Islamic organizations of France president, said: "We extend our helping hands to everybody whatever their religion, culture and values are, in the name of togetherness and a prosperous future."

On Jan. 20, Abdallah Zekri, president of France's Collective Against Islamophobia (CCIF), said the organization had recorded 704 anti-Muslim acts in 2014, against 905 in 2015.

Zekri said these were the highest level of attacks since the collective was established in 2011.