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Tens of thousands protest in Dhaka, Saudi Arabia intervenes and Iran summons a diplomat on France’s treatment of Islam.
- A deep rift has emerged between France and Muslim nations after French President Emmanuel Macron said earlier this month that Islam was in “crisis.”
- Tension increased further after the murder of French teacher Sameul Paty on October 16 for displaying cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad. French officials were perceived to link the gruesome murder to Islam.
- Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized Macron, saying the French leader needed “mind checks” on his attitude toward Islam.
- Across the Muslim world, leaders continue to condemn French officials and Macron, including Saudi Arabia and Iran; while thousands attend protests in Bangladesh calling for a boycott of French products.
Turkish President files complaint against Dutch MP Wilders
Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan filed a criminal complaint against far-right Dutch politician Geert Wilders for an insulting tweet.
“Fascism is not in our book, it is in your book. Social justice is in our book, ”Erdogan said Sunday at a meeting of the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK) in eastern Malatya province, calling Wilders a“ fascist ”.
His comments came after the leader of the Freedom Party, Wilders, known for his anti-Islam stance, shared an insulting cartoon of the Turkish president on Twitter that was denounced by several Turkish officials, including Foreign Minister Mevlut Cavusoglu. .
Palestinians protest against French insults against Islam
Hundreds of Palestinians staged a protest in the city of al-Ram in Jerusalem against the insulting statements of French President Emmanuel Macron on Islam and the Prophet Muhammad.
Protesters waved banners and chanted slogans defending the Prophet from French insults, according to eyewitnesses.
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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