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Calls for a boycott of French products in the Middle East increased, in the context of angry reactions provoked by the statements of French President Emmanuel Macron, who pledged “not to give up the cartoons” of the prophet Muhammad.
On Thursday, the French president announced, at a memorial service for teacher Samuel Batey, who was assassinated by an Islamist by cutting off his head for showing cartoons depicting the prophet Muhammad to his students during a session on freedom of expression, that he died ” he was the incarnation of the republic, “and confirmed that his country will not abandon” cartoons. ” “.
Turkey, Iran, Jordan and Kuwait condemned the publication of the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. The Organization of Islamic Cooperation also denounced “official political rhetoric issued by some French officials that offends Franco-Islamic relations and fuels feelings of hatred for the sake of partisan political gains.”
Since Friday, calls on social media to boycott French products have increased. In Qatar, the distribution networks “Al Meera” and “Souk Al Baladi” announced the “withdrawal” of French products from stores until further notice. In one of the “Al Meera” stores, an AFP reporter saw employees take “Saint Dalfour” brand products from the shelves.
On Friday, the University of Qatar announced on Twitter that it was “compassionate with the latest developments related to the deliberate abuse of Islam and its symbols. The administration of the University of Qatar decided to postpone the French Cultural Week event indefinitely.”
Foy Kuwait posted photos on social media showing the removal of French cheese products “Kiri” and “Peppel” from the shelves of some stores.
On Saturday, the vice president of the Kuwait Federation of Cooperative Societies, Khaled Al-Otaibi, told France Press that “60 cooperative societies have declared a boycott of 68 French products distributed in all Kuwait governorates.” Al-Otaibi said: “We have withdrawn all French products, ie cheeses, creams and cosmetics, from the shelves of cooperative societies and returned them to the authorized agents of these brands in Kuwait.”
In turn, the head of the Union of Travel Agencies, Muhammad Al-Mutairi, told France Presse that “many travel agencies in Kuwait no longer offer booking services for flights to France or hotel reservations there due to the drawings offensive of the Prophet Muhammad. “
In Jordan, the opposition Islamic Action Front party urged citizens to boycott French products.
The Gulf states, especially Qatar, Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates, constitute a growing market for exports from the French food industry.
