I understand the anger of the Muslim ummah, but no …

PARIS – France’s president, Emanuel Macron try to clarify what he said was a misunderstanding of intent French in the Muslim world. He admits that he respects and understands the anger of Muslims, but insists that he will not tolerate violence for any reason.

Macron said France will not back down from the violence and will defend the right to freedom of expression, including publishing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that have angered Muslims around the world.

However, Macron stressed that this does not mean that he or his officials support the cartoons or that France is completely anti-Muslim. (Also read: Jokowi condemns the statement of French President Emmanuel Macron insulting Islam)

“So I understand and respect that people can be surprised by this cartoon, but I will never accept that someone can justify physical violence for this cartoon, and I will always defend the freedom in my country to write, think, draw,” Macron said.

“My role is to calm things down, that’s what I do. But at the same time, protect these rights,” he continued in a statement, Al Arabiya reported on Sunday (1/11/2020).

As is known, Macron last month promised to fight “Islamist separatism” which, he said, threatened to control several Muslim communities in France. (Also read: Hezbollah: France drags into battle with Muslims over cartoons of the prophet)

France was rocked by the beheading of a history teacher by a radical who wanted revenge because the teacher showed a cartoon of the prophet Muhammad in class to explain freedom of expression. Unfinished, the second attack occurred in the middle of last week, in which three people died in the city of Nice.

Macron later defended the publication of cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad, which he considered freedom of expression and opinion. The representation of the prophet Muhammad was considered defamation by Muslims.

(esn)