From Reuters:
“France
warns citizens to be cautious as anger seethes in Muslim world over cartoons”
France warned
its citizens living or travelling in several Muslim-majority countries to take
extra security precautions on Tuesday as anger surged over cartoons of the
Prophet Mohammad. In a sign that some countries want to limit the fallout,
Saudi Arabia condemned the cartoons but held back from echoing calls by other
Muslim states for a boycott of French products or other actions.
The row has its
roots in a knife attack outside a French school on Oct. 16 in which a man of
Chechen origin beheaded Samuel Paty, a teacher who had shown pupils cartoons of
Prophet Mohammad in a civics lesson on freedom of speech. The caricatures are
considered blasphemous by Muslims. France’s foreign ministry on Tuesday issued
safety advice to French citizens in Indonesia, Bangladesh, Iraq and Mauritania,
advising them to exercise caution. They should stay away from any protests over
the cartoons and avoid any public gatherings. “It is recommended to exercise
the greatest vigilance, especially while travelling, and in places that are
frequented by tourists or expatriate communities,” it said. The French embassy
in Turkey issued similar advice to its citizens there.
Turkish
President Tayyip Erdogan has been one of the most vociferous critics of the
French government, leading calls for a boycott of French goods. French Interior
Minister Gerald Darmanin retorted on Tuesday that Turkey, and Pakistan, should
not meddle in France’s domestic affairs. Paris has recalled its ambassador in
Ankara, and Pakistan’s parliament on Monday passed a resolution urging the
government to recall its envoy from Paris. The images of the Prophet were first
published years ago by a French satirical magazine, whose editorial offices
were attacked in 2015 by gunmen who killed 12 people.
Since the
beheading of the teacher Paty this month, the cartoons have been displayed in
France in solidarity, angering some Muslims. President Emmanuel Macron, who met
representatives of France’s Muslim community on Monday, has pledged to fight
“Islamist separatism”, saying it was threatening to take over some Muslim
communities in France.
SAUDI
CONDMENS TERRORISM Saudi Arabia appeared to be taking a moderate response
to the controversy, steering clear of boycott calls. A Saudi foreign ministry
official said on Tuesday the Gulf state condemns all acts of terrorism, an
apparent reference to Paty’s killing. “Freedom of expression and culture
should be a beacon of respect, tolerance and peace that rejects practices and
acts which generate hatred, violence and extremism and are contrary to
coexistence,” the official said in a statement. The daily Arab News on
Tuesday cited the head of the Saudi-based Muslim World League, Mohammed
al-Issa, as cautioning that an over-reaction “that is negative and goes beyond
what is acceptable” would only benefit “haters”. However, calls for a
boycott of French supermarket chain Carrefour were trending on social media in
Saudi Arabia. In Kuwait, some supermarkets have pulled French products. Turkey’s
Erdogan on Monday asked his compatriots to stop buying French goods and accused
France of pursuing an anti-Islam agenda.
France is a
major exporter of grain to mainly-Muslim North Africa, and French companies in
the autos and retail sectors also have significant exposure to majority-Muslim
countries. French Trade Minister Franck Riester said it was too earlyto put a
figure on the impact of a boycott campaign but so farit was limited and mainly
affected French agricultural exports. Iran’s Foreign Ministry summoned the
French charge d’affaires over the cartoons, state media reported on Tuesday. A
ministry official told the diplomat during their meeting on Monday that Iran
strongly rejected “any insult and disrespect to the Prophet of Islam”. n
Bangladesh on Monday, protesters held placards with the image of the French
President and the words: “Macron is the enemy of peace”.
^ Only Saudi
Arabia has condemned the Islamist Terrorist Attack outside the Paris School which
started all of this. That shows the true nature of many Muslim-majority
countries. They care more about a boycott of French goods than the beheading of
a human being and that is not right. If a Christian, a Jew or any other religion
goes to a Muslim country then you are required to abide by the Muslim Religious
Traditions (I was when I went to Kuwait) so why don’t Muslims have to abide by
either Christian, Jewish or even Secular Traditions when they are in a country like
France (or the US or most of the world?) People can have their freedom of
religion, but must also follow the laws of the country they are in – whether they
are a citizen, a tourist, etc. I am religious, but I also believe in the “Separation
of Church and State.” I don’t force my own religious beliefs on anyone and I expect
others to do the same for me. A public school in the US, in Canada, in Germany,
in Russia, in the UK, in Spain, in France, etc. should not praise one religion
over another nor should they be censored in teaching and discussing religions
as long as all religions are taught. A secular country is the only way to not
favor one religion over another and to not force one religion over another and that
is the best option for the vast majority of people around the world today. If a
Chechen or a Turk or a Bangladeshi or a Pakistanis or an Iranian, etc. doesn’t
like how things are in France, in the US, in Russia, in the UK, in Canada, etc.
then they can go to a Muslim-majority country (like Iran, Saudi Arabia, etc.)
and follow the strict Islamic laws. Otherwise they need to become secular in
public and religious in private. Turkey is just leading this current charge
because they are mad that the EU will never let them join, that their war in
Syria isn’t going well, that the ordinary Turks are protesting against Erdogan’s
Dictatorship and many other issues. They are just trying to deflect away from
their own internal and international problems. As for the other countries: it
is a little funny to see Third World Countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh
call for a boycott of French goods when you know the vast majority of the
citizens living there work in sweat-shops barely making $1 and can not afford
French (or Western goods) whether there is a boycott or not. The bottom line
is: Muslims need to denounce Terrorism (especially Islamic Terrorism) and if
they don’t then they are only supporting the terrorists who commit these crimes
and giving credit to the belief that Muslims love death and violence of
non-Muslims. I know that after every Islamic Terrorist Attack we always hear
that Islam is about love and respect for all, but actions speak louder than
words. ^
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