Vandalism of Friday prayer sign in Penzberg, Germany

In the Bavarian town of Penzberg, a newly erected sign announcing the Muslim community’s Friday prayer was spray‑painted with black paint during the night of Friday to Saturday. Police opened a criminal investigation for property damage, while the perpetrator remains unidentified.

The project, described by imam Benjamin Idriz as the first of its kind in Germany, had been preceded by a wave of online threats and more than 10,000 hateful comments on the community’s Facebook page. Idriz emphasized that the sign represents religious freedom and the integration of Muslim life into local society.

City officials quickly cleaned the sign and reaffirmed plans to install additional signs at other locations, stressing equal treatment of all faith groups.