Serbian trio sentenced for hate crimes targeting French mosques

Friday 06 - 14:30

A Serbian court has sentenced three men to house arrest after they pleaded guilty to a series of hate crimes and espionage-related offenses, including placing pig heads near mosques in Paris to incite anti-Muslim sentiment. The trio also admitted to acts of defacing Jewish sites in France and Germany.

Plea and sentencing

The three men, part of a larger group of 11 suspects arrested in September 2025, reached plea agreements with the Higher Court of Serbia. They were convicted of espionage, racial discrimination, and criminal association, receiving sentences ranging from six to 18 months under house arrest. One of the defendants retains the right to appeal his sentence.

Hate incidents in France

Authorities reported that nine pig heads—considered impure in Islam—were discovered outside Parisian mosques in early September 2025, sparking outrage among local Muslim communities. In April, vandals defaced the Holocaust Memorial, three synagogues, and a restaurant in Paris with green paint, further heightening concerns about rising religious hatred in the region.

Ongoing investigations

The court confirmed that proceedings against eight co-accused are still underway. Serbian investigators have also indicated they are searching for a foreign national suspected of training the group under the direction of a foreign intelligence service. Some members of the network have already been charged and jailed in France.

The case highlights ongoing efforts in Europe to combat hate crimes motivated by religious and racial intolerance while addressing potential links to foreign-directed espionage.