The Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI) condemned President Emmanuel Macron's moves to stoke anti-Islamic sentiment in France, averring that he has bred Islamophobia among his people through indirect support to the ongoing blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad.
"The MUI has observed that Macron indirectly backs Islamophobic movements," MUI Deputy General Chairman KH Muhyiddin Junaidi stated here on Monday while commenting on Macron's support for displaying and reprinting the cartoons mocking Prophet Muhammad.
Junaidi pointed out that France was recorded in world history as one of the Western colonizers that has adopted a racist and cruel approach against the people of its colonies, especially Muslim-populated nations in the African continent.
"Hence, there is no doubt if Macron's Islamophobic behavior draws fierce reactions from the Islamic World, and he is compelled to withdraw his Islamophobic statements. Several Middle Eastern countries have also condemned and boycotted French products," he remarked.
Junaidi called for Macron to gain a broader understanding of religious tolerance, especially from Islam. He opined that unlimited freedom that tends to oppose norms will only cause havoc and create chaos.
On Oct 16, Samuel Paty was beheaded by 18-year-old Abdullakh Anzorov after this history and geography teacher showed to his students several cartoons including one depicting a naked man described as the Prophet Muhammad during a class on Oct 6.
The French police later shot dead the young man, who felt offended by Paty's blasphemy against the Prophet, who is well-respected by Muslims worldwide.
“France will not give up our cartoons," BBC quoted President Macron as saying in response to the teacher's death. Légion d'Honneur, France's highest honor, was also bestowed upon Paty.
In the aftermath of this murder case, the cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammad, made by Charlie Hebdo, were projected onto government buildings.
Prior to this case, this French satirical weekly magazine has frequently published cartoons that fueled public ire in several Muslim-populated nations.
After publishing cartoons mocking the Prophet Muhammad on grounds that its actions aligned with the freedom of speech and expression, two people attacked Charlie Hebdo's office on Jan 7, 2015, killing 12 people and injuring 11 others.
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