Islam in Besançon

Colonial military units composed of African Muslims were stationed in Besançon and the Franche-Comté from the 1870s to World War I to augment the French army and protect its frontiers during its conflicts with Germany.

[3][4] La dépêche of January 2 of 1910, the newspaper of Besançon, have write an article about this coloniaux : "Since we do not want to have enough children to keep our flag in front of a Germany increasingly bloated, we have one resource, recruit soldiers among the primitive men who, under our rule, consent to be born and die.

On November 14, 1944, it is the offensive that will free the rest of the department of Doubs, Belfort and Alsace, then cross the Rhine and pursue the enemy into Austria.

[7] A statue named Les Sentinelles de la Mémoire (The Sentinels of Memory) was also created paying tribute to the foreigner deads for the France during the world wars.

Al-Fath association works essentially for the Islamic and civic education, sportive events, releases and travels, assistant at the Muslims for administrative queries.

Graves of colonial soldiers in the cemetery of Saint-Claude, Besançon.