The dispute between Erdogan and Macron intensifies, the most important in 4 points

The dispute between Erdogan and Macron intensifies, and now there is also “Charlie Hebdo”

The relationship between France and Turkey has continually cooled in recent months. The two countries face several ongoing conflicts on opposite sides. For example, in Libya, in the gas dispute in the eastern Mediterranean and, more recently, in the Nagorno-Karabakh war.

Since mid-October, the mood between Presidents Emmanuel Macron and Recep Tayyip Erdogan has again deteriorated. There were even calls for boycotts and Nazi comparisons. Now the satirical magazine “Charlie Hebdo” has once again added fuel to the fire.

How did this come about?

The beheading of Samuel Paty

The trigger for the new escalation is the murder of a French teacher, Samuel Paty, near Paris on October 16. An 18-year-old ambushed Paty, beheaded him, and then posted a photo of the victim online with a message for French President Emmanuel Macron, whom he described as the “leader of the infidels.”

Shortly after the crime, the perpetrator was shot and killed by the police. The beheading was preceded by numerous threats against the teacher and the school. At the beginning of October, the teacher took up the topic of freedom of expression as part of the class, where he showed, among other things, cartoons of Muhammad.

As a result, the father of a student published posts on social media, complained to the school management, and mobilized against the teacher. This incited the assailant so much that he killed the teacher with a 12-inch knife.

That’s what Macron said

The murder of the teacher unleashed a great wave of solidarity. In the following days, thousands of people took to the streets of France to commemorate Samuel Paty and defend freedom of expression.

President Emmanuel Macron did the same. He announced determination and action in the fight against radical Islamism. Macron promotes an Islam that is “compatible with the values ​​of the republic.” The strict separation of Church and State is a fundamental principle of the French constitution.

In the emotional commemoration of Paty, Macron called for the defense of freedom. “We won’t get by without cartoons (and) drawings,” Macron said. Paty, 47, was the victim of a deadly conspiracy of stupidity, lies and hatred of others, Macron said. “We move on, (Lord) teacher!”

Macron had previously prepared his compatriots for a long struggle against radical Islamism. A “battle” must be fought in the areas of security, education and culture, and “it will last,” government spokesman Gabriel Attal quoted the head of state after a cabinet meeting.

In early October, Macron announced a new law in the fight against “separatism” and “radical Islamism.” It will be discussed in cabinet in early December and should now be more difficult than initially expected.

Over the weekend, Macron repeated his point of view again. On Twitter, he spoke out against hate speech and spread the message in multiple languages, including Arabic. “We will not give up, ever,” said the 42-year-old.

Erdogan’s reaction

The harsh crackdown on radical Islam was not well received by the Turkish president. “What kind of problem does this person named Macron have with Islam and Muslims?” Erdogan asked at a congress of his AKP party in Kayseri. The Turkish president spoke of “worrying signs of growing Islamophobia in Europe” and advised the French president to have his “mental state examined”.

Furthermore, Erdogan made a comparison with National Socialism. “You are in the true sense of the word fascists,” he said. “Today Muslims are experiencing a lynching campaign similar to what was waged against Jews in Europe before World War II.” He accused European governments of being “chains of National Socialism.” After these remarks, Paris called its Ankara ambassador in protest, an incident that had never happened before.

But that’s not all: Erdogan called for a boycott of French products in a televised speech on Monday. “Do not pay attention to the products labeled in French, do not buy them,” said the Turkish president. Erdogan thus joined the calls for boycotts that had previously circulated in the Middle East.

Because Erdogan is not alone with his criticisms of Macron. The governments of Jordan, Morocco, Kuwait and Pakistan also rejected Macron’s statements. There were mass demonstrations in Bangladesh and elsewhere.

Saudi Arabia also again described the Muhammad cartoons as “offensive.” “Saudi Arabia rejects any attempt to link Islam and terrorism,” said a statement from the Foreign Ministry in Riyadh. The cartoons show Mohammend wearing a bomb-shaped turban, among other things.

“Charlie Hebdo” adds

“Charlie Hebdo” warmed up the already heated atmosphere again. The cartoon on the cover of Wednesday’s “Charlie Hebdo,” which was posted online Tuesday night, shows Erdogan in a white blouse and boxer shorts sitting in an armchair.

She holds a can in her hand and lifts the tunic of a veiled woman to reveal her bare bottom. Oh! The profit! ”Says a sandwich. The page is titled with the words: “Erdogan – in private is a lot of fun.”

Turkey’s reaction was swift. Erdogan’s communications director, Fahrettin Altun, accused the magazine of “cultural racism” on Tuesday night. The “so-called cartoons” are “repulsive” and without human morals, he said in a message. “The anti-Muslim agenda of French President Emmanuel Macron is paying off!” Altun wrote.

Ankara’s Public Ministry opened an investigation Wednesday for presidential insult against Charlie Hebdo, according to the state news agency Anadolu.

Erdogan’s spokesman also strongly condemned the new “Charlie Hebdo” cartoons. The post is intended to “sow seeds of hatred and hostility,” Ibrahim Kalin wrote on Twitter. “Anyone with common sense should condemn and reject this disgusting post.”

Erdogan himself said on Wednesday that he had not seen the cover of Charlie Hebdo, but had heard from it. It is beneath their dignity to even pay attention to such “obscene posts.”

He had nothing to say to those who insulted the Prophet Muhammad. “We know that the goal is not me, but the values ​​we represent,” says Erdogan. It is “a matter of honor” to oppose attacks against the prophet.

(With sda / dpa material)