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Tens of thousands protest in Dhaka, Saudi Arabia intervenes and Iran summons a diplomat on France’s treatment of Islam.
- Saudi Arabia condemns attempts to link Islam with terrorism, while denouncing “all terrorist attacks” regardless of the perpetrators.
- Iran summons the French envoy to condemn “any insults and disrespect to the Prophet of Islam.”
- In Bangladesh, 40,000 people attend protests against France calling for a boycott of French products.
France tells its citizens in Muslim countries: Beware of backlash
France has warned its citizens living or traveling in several Muslim-majority countries to take extra security precautions due to a wave of anger over cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad displayed in a French school.
French officials have said they will continue to support the right to display the cartoons after an 18-year-old Chechen student killed Samuel Paty, a teacher who showed the images to his students as part of a civics lesson.
Tens of thousands organize an anti-France rally in the capital of Bangladesh
Tens of thousands of protesters marched through Dhaka, the Bangladeshi capital, calling for a boycott of French products and burning an effigy of Macron after he defended cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad.
Police estimated that more than 40,000 people participated in the march, which stopped before it could approach the French embassy.
Hundreds of officers used a barbed wire barricade to stop the protesters, who dispersed peacefully.
Iran summons French ambassador over Macron’s comments
Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the French charge d’affaires over Macron’s comments on Islam and Muslims.
A ministry official told the diplomat that Iran strongly rejected “any insult and disrespect to the Prophet of Islam … and the pure values of Islam by anyone, regardless of their position,” according to local media.
Saudi Arabia condemns attempts to ‘link Islam to terrorism’
Saudi Arabia has condemned the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad and any attempt to “link Islam with terrorism.”
However, the kingdom did not echo calls from other Muslim majority countries to act against images of the Prophet displayed in France.
A statement from the Foreign Ministry also said that Saudi Arabia “condemns any terrorist act, whoever committed it,” in an apparent reference to the beheading of teacher Samuel Paty near Paris this month.
Hi. This is Usaid Siddiqui in Toronto, and I bring you the latest updates on the backlash for criticism of Islam by French President Emmanuel Macron. Here is a quick summary:
The fallout between France and the Muslim world continues on Tuesday.
The gap has widened after two events: the first was Emmanuel Macron’s speech on October 2 in which the French president said Islam was a religion in “crisis” around the world, as he sought support for a new bill to strengthen the laws of secularism.
The second event, the murder of teacher Samuel Paty, has caused even more unrest. While Muslims condemned the gruesome beheading in the light of day, the response from French officials was perceived to link Islam to “terrorism.” There are also fears of collective punishment.
Also, because Paty was killed after showing students cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, officials, including Macron, have been defiant in saying that these images would continue to be allowed as a matter of freedom of expression.
The prophet is deeply revered by Muslims and any kind of visual representation is forbidden in Islam.
Over the weekend, Muslims called for a boycott of French products, a move backed by Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who often clashes with Macron. There have also been several street protests throughout the Muslim world.
Some world leaders have criticized Macron’s treatment of Islam, while many in Europe support him.
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