Statue of Mary Beheaded Close to Lyon
A statue of Mary holding the infant Jesus was decapitated in Poleymieux-au-Mont-d’Or, close to Lyon. The heads of both figures were destroyed and found at the base of the monument.
The statue of Our Lady of the Golden Mountains, depicting the Virgin Mary holding the infant Jesus, was severely vandalised in the village of Poleymieux-au-Mont-d’Or.
The damage was discovered on the morning of Monday, 4 May 2026. Both the Virgin and the Child were decapitated, with fragments of their faces found on the stone pedestal. Additional debris was scattered around the site, and a metal rod was visible protruding from the statue’s torso. According to local reporting, the monument appears to have been struck with a heavy tool capable of breaking stone.
The mayor of the commune, Corinne Cardona, reacted strongly to the incident, stating: “It’s absolutely scandalous and appalling.”
A formal complaint has been filed and the police have opened an investigation to identify those responsible. The mayor has appealed for witnesses among residents of the town. She further noted: “We’ve had many reactions from angry and shocked people.”
“France accounts for just over a third of all anti-religious acts, particularly those targeting Christians, across Europe,” warned Olivier Vial, director of the CERU, in connection to the incident.
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