PM Imran Khan Calls out French President Macron over encouraging Islamophobia

Prime Minister Imran Khan on Sunday has expressed his anger on French President Emmanuel Macron over his anti-Islam strategies, by clearly stating that his “public statements based on ignorance will create more hate, Islamophobia and space for extremists”.

PM Khan’s statements came out in the wake of the protests that have broken out in several cities of the world after the French president alleged Muslims of separatism and vowed not to give up blasphemous sketches depicting the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The French president is being criticised globally for his stingy words.

Macron remarks came in response to the beheading of a teacher, Samuel Paty, a 47-year-old teacher, who was attacked on his way home in Paris from the school where he taught.

Reportedly, Samuel had shown his students the blasphemous sketches disrespecting Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The Prime Minister Imran Khan, in a series of tweets, has condemned the statement of the French President citing examples of the iconic leader Nelson Mandela.

“This is a time when President Macron could have put the healing touch and denied space to extremists rather than “creating further polarisation and marginalisation that inevitably leads to radicalisation”.

“It is unfortunate that he has chosen to encourage Islamophobia by attacking Islam rather than the terrorists who carry out violence, be it Muslims, White Supremacists or Nazi ideologists. Sadly, President Macron has chosen to deliberately provoke Muslims, incl his own citizens, through encouraging the display of blasphemous cartoons targeting Islam and our Prophet (PBUH)”, he wrote on Twitter.

It is unfortunate that he has chosen to encourage Islamophobia by attacking Islam rather than the terrorists who carry out violence, be it Muslims, White Supremacists or Nazi ideologists. Sadly, President Macron has chosen to deliberately provoke Muslims, incl his own citizens,

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 25, 2020

“Macron has attacked and hurt the sentiments of Muslims around the world”, the premier said adding that “last thing the world wants or needs is further polarization. Public statements based on ignorance will create more hate, Islamophobia, and space for extremists”.

The last thing the world wants or needs is further polarisation. Public statements based on ignorance will create more hate, Islamophobia & space for extremists.

— Imran Khan (@ImranKhanPTI) October 25, 2020