The decision of French President Emmanuel Macron not to refuse to publish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed is a provocation in relation to the entire Islamic world, Mufti Albir Krganov, the chairman of the Spiritual Assembly of Muslims of Russia, told RIA Novosti.
Earlier, the media reported that French President Emmanuelle Macron called on "not to refuse to post the cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad," because of which a French teacher was killed. The French president's statement sparked a negative reaction in the Islamic world. For example, Chechen Mufti Salah Hajji Mezhiyev called the French leader's actions "an attack on Islam". According to the Mufti, Macron ordered to hang caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad on the government buildings of the country.
"'The French president's decision not to refuse to publish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed on the eve of Mawlid (birthday of the Prophet Mohammed) is a provocation against the entire Islamic world. That's how it was perceived," Krganov said.
The entire Islamic world is "outraged by this act," he said. According to Krganov, leaders of other faiths could also express their concern about the situation in France.
"Instead of taking a state course to protect the rights of believers and fight criminals, Macron's level politicians make decisions that offend billions of Muslims. Any believer will condemn the cartoons of Muhammad because love for the Prophet is the foundation of our faith," the Mufti said.
At the same time, he noted that Muslims condemn the murderer of the teacher because "killing people is forbidden in our religion". In his opinion, believing Muslims can be allies of the state because they have a negative attitude towards criminals because the latter actually "oppose traditional Islamic values".
"I have been to French cities and met with respected imams - these are law-abiding patriots of France. However, with such actions, the French government will push away Muslims who could support the state in the fight against extremists", Krganov emphasized.
He pointed out that inter-religious relations can be kept within the framework of morality and law if confessions are treated with respect. "We can share with French authorities the experience of building inter-religious relations in Russia," the agency's interlocutor concluded.
GSV "Russia - Islamic World"
Photo: SAMR official website
Based on materials from RIA Novosti