France has appealed for foreign governments to stamp out calls by what it calls a "radical minority" for a boycott of French products after Emmanuel Macron's public backing of the Muhammad caricatures.
In a strongly worded statement, France's foreign ministry demanded that calls for a boycott of its products and the "occasionally hateful" protests against the country must end.
"These calls distort the positions defended by France in favour of freedom of conscience, freedom of expression, freedom of religion and the refusal of any call to hatred," it read.
"Consequently, the calls for boycott are pointless and must cease immediately, as must all attacks against our country, instrumentalised by a radical minority."
Muslims have also been angered by Macron's comments earlier this month that Islam is "a religion that is in crisis all over the world today". The comments were made when the French president announced his long-awaited law against "separatism" aimed at combatting radical Islam in France, expected to be presented to the French parliament in December. The influential university-mosque, al-Azhar in Cairo, Egypt, described Macron's statement as "racist".
In Israel, about 200 people gathered in front of the French embassy to condemn Macron. In Gaza, Palestinian protesters burned photos of the French president.
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Muslim world condemns Macron, France over treatment of Islam
Iran's Foreign Minister Javad Zarif wrote on Twitter: "Muslims are the primary victims of the 'cult of hatred' – empowered by colonial regimes & exported by their own clients. Insulting 1.9B Muslims- & their sanctities – for the abhorrent crimes of such extremists is an opportunistic abuse of freedom of speech. It only fuels extremism."
Pakistan's Foreign Ministry on Monday summoned the French ambassador in Islamabad to complain about Macron's comments.
"The seeds of hate that are being cultivated today will polarise the society and have serious consequences," Foreign Minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi said in a statement.
Qureshi said Pakistan had urged the United Nations "to take notice and action against the hate-based narrative against Islam."
Morocco's foreign ministry also "vigorously" condemned the continued publication of the caricatures, in a statement carried by the official MAP news agency.
Jordan's Islamic Affairs Minister Mohammed al-Khalayleh said that "insulting" prophets was "not an issue of personal freedom but a crime that encourages violence.
European Commission Vice President Margaritis Schinas said on Twitter: "Sorry to disappoint you but this is our way of life as defined in our Treaty. The European Way of Life", as he added a screenshot of a treaty article defining fundamental EU values.
"Actually, this is your way of life now," Turkey's Foreign Minister Fahrettin Altun snapped back, posting on Twitter a link suggesting Frontex, the EU agency tasked with border control, has been complicit in illegally pushing back refugees.
Muslim world condemns Macron, France over treatment of Islam
Leaders and groups across Muslim world join debate amid protests, while Europe stands by Macron and criticises Turkey.
www.aljazeera.com
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