Broadcasting religious songs during patrol, refusing to take part in a minute silence, protecting a synagogue and inciting violence on Facebook have all been cited in a leaked memo highlighting a worrying rise in religious fundamentalism among police ranks — albeit in a very limited number of police officers.
The internal memo reveals 17 cases between 2012 and 2015 involving officers in Paris who had demonstrated behavior that concerned their superiors. Paris is policed by 27,000 officers.
Le Parisien claims that four officers involved had converted to Islam and had committed acts including refusing to stand guard outside a synagogue or refusing to respect a minute silence. The so-called "transgressions" are being committed on a weekly basis, claims the newspaper.
Stanislas Gaudon from police union, Alliance, told The Local: "This phenomenon was a concern back in 2014, which is why the Ministry of Interior asked for particular attention to be paid to it.
"There are rules in place that forbid officers from demonstrating their religious conviction at work. Officers are closely watched by their superiors and police chiefs in Paris and if an individual is identified then police intelligence services can become involved," he said.
"It may prove to be a false alarm or…or fundamentalism."
Le Parisien said counterterror officers had not call been called in to investigate those involved.
