Pakistani PM says French president’s remarks would encourage Islamophobia

Prime Minister Imran Khan accused French President Emmanuel Macron on Sunday of “attacking Islam”, after the European leader defended the publication of blasphemous cartoons.

Khan’s comments follow statements Macron made last week after a French teacher was beheaded near Paris after he had shown blasphemous cartoons during a class he was leading on free speech.

Macron said the teacher “was killed because Islamists want our future”.

In a series of tweets, Khan said the remark would sow division.

“This is a time when Pres Macron could have put healing touch & denied space to extremists rather than creating further polarisation & marginalisation that inevitably leads to radicalisation,” Khan wrote.

“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.”

Macron already sparked controversy earlier this month when he said “Islam is a religion that is in crisis all over the world”.

“By attacking Islam, clearly without having any understanding of it, President Macron has attacked & hurt the sentiments of millions of Muslims in Europe & across the world,” Khan said.

In an address to the United Nations last month, Khan blasted the Charlie Hebdo magazine for re-publishing the blasphemous cartoons, saying “wilful provocations” should be “universally outlawed”.

Several Muslim countries have called for a boycott of French goods...

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