‘Muslim’ gargoyle at French cathedral

The gargoyles grinning down from Lyon’s majestic St Jean Cathedral may in recent centuries have lost their power to intimidate sinners, but a new arrival has perturbed some hardliners.

In line with mediaeval tradition, a stonemason who worked on the edifice’s latest renovation has himself been immortalised in stone –in this case, as a new gargoyle named Ahmed, perched over the inscription Allahu Akbar.

The statue is named after Ahmed Benzizine, a Muslim who has worked for the firm carrying out the work for 30 years. Church officials have no problem with the caricature, but a local conservative group is angry.

Stonemason Emmanuel Fourchet decided to carve “Ahmed” as a gargoyle in tribute to his friend.