"They will take from you everything": how the far-right is already exploiting the tragedy of the Notre Dame fire

When the fire started at Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris, thousands of Parisians and tourists gathered on the banks of the Seine watched in horror as flames engulfed one of the world’s most famous gothic cathedrals and its spire snapped in two before collapsing.

The symbolical blow has been profound: Notre Dame is France’s geographical and historical centre, the starting point for all major French roads. But the symbolical significance of Notre Dame to the French nation only partly explains why the fire has provided such a fertile ground for a perhaps surprising group: the far-right.

The sight of one of the world’s most famous Catholic churches ablaze has fuelled narratives about the decline of Western civilisation and confirmed the beliefs of those who subscribe to the idea of a war between Islam and the West.

From unverified claims that the fire was intentional to fake pictures and videos of alleged arsonists, far-right (and alt-right) figures, conspiracy-minded right-wingers and internet trolls started spreading disinformation within minutes of the fire breaking out.

An article in Buzzfeed showed how one ‘parody’ Twitter account that misrepresented itself as Fox News shared a false quote from a Muslim congresswoman saying: “they reap what they sow.”

In France, conspiracy theorists in the far-right and in radical Islamism have presented the fire as retribution for a recent controversy involving a teenager going by the name of ‘Hugo’ who tweeted a joke about the pilgrimage in Mecca—and who has since received hundreds of death threats, as well as support from prominent French political figures.

In the English-speaking world, social media and alt-tech platforms have been awash with pictures of “Muslims rejoicing at the tragedy.” In a 4chan thread entitled “Muslims laughing,” a user shared the widely circulated picture of “Muslims taking pleasure in Notre Dame” burning.

“This is how they thank you for accepting them into your country,” a post read on Gab, a ‘free speech’ platform favoured by the far-right.

In some cases, these anti-Muslim narratives have veered into calls for new ‘crusades’ and apocalyptic language. A picture of the cathedral in flames in a far-right Telegram channel came with the caption: “They will take from you everything: Your culture. Your history. Your existence.”

More worrying is the fact that, far from being confined to fringe platforms, disinformation and divisive narratives have seeped into the mainstream, with figures from the political far-right indulging in barely veiled anti-Muslim statements.

Jean Mehissa, an official from Marine Le Pen’s Rassemblement National (RN) party, tweeted: “While French people are scarred by the fire at Notre Dame in Paris, some ‘French people’ are rejoicing.”

Elsewhere in Europe, the political far-right has followed suit. The Twitter account of a local AfD (Alternative for Deutschland) wrote: “The Notre Dame Cathedral in Paris is on fire .… And not a few Muslims react with malice.” Similar examples have emerged in Italy, Spain and Poland among others, where the tragedy at Notre Dame has fuelled claims about the decline of Western civilisation and the threat of Islam and immigration.

Conspiracy theories and attempts at pitting the French against each other are especially damaging at a time when the country remains divided. The social unrest of the gilets jaunes (yellow vests) continues, as protesters prepare to take to the streets for Act XXIII of the movement this weekend.

The government’s launch of a ‘Great National Debate’ to assuage the yellow vests’ social grievances has left many among the gilets jaunes unconvinced.

The way the gilets jaunes have shared disinformation and conspiracies around Notre Dane itself has exposed the deep mistrust of institutions that continues to pervade the movement.

Some gilets jaunes groups on social media shared false flag conspiracies claiming that the French government started the fire to weaken the movement. “Coincidence or Macronian republican diversion?” a message in a gilets jaunes Telegram channel read.

These wild claims have also flourished on Twitter and Facebook. “The Fouquet [luxury restaurant torched on 16^th March by the gilets jaunes] has burned. The government is taking revenge by burning our monuments, notre dame,” a social media user wrote in one of the gilets jaunes’ largest Facebook groups, “La France en Colère !!!” (“Angry France !!!”).

In the last few years, ill-intentioned actors have made a habit of exploiting tragic real-time events to disseminate conspiracy theories and fake news, and fuel divisive narratives like this. But beyond the conspiracies and attempts at division, the tragedy has shown France’s desire for reconciliation.

“We'll rebuild this cathedral all together,” said President Macron, while companies, charitable foundations and individuals have pledged millions for the restoration works.

Despite the far right’s appropriation, then, collective mourning at the near loss of a jewel of French heritage has served more as a reminder of what unites the country—in defiance of those who seek to divide us.