In an exclusive interview with Al-Jazeera .. Macron: I understand the feelings of Muslims
In an exclusive interview with the Qatari Al-Jazeera channel, French President Emmanuel Macron said that he wants, through his meeting with the Qatari channel, to "eliminate misunderstanding" and to emphasize that France is very keen on freedom of belief, and that everyone residing in France enjoys the same political and civil rights, regardless of religion. Or his race, France is an open country of religions.
"France was subjected to 3 terrorist strikes by violent extremists, who did so by transforming and distorting Islam into actions that shocked and wounded the French people," Macron said, adding that the attack on France was based on a lot of misunderstanding.
He also added, "Our country does not have a problem with any religion in the world, because all religions are practiced freely in our country, for the French Muslims, as well as for citizens in all parts of the world who profess Islam, and France is a country in which Islam is practiced freely, and there is no stigmatization or Shaming, all this is wrong, and everything that is said is wrong. "
Regarding the offensive cartoons of the Messenger (PBUH) and his statements about them, which many saw as supporting them, Macron said that they were based on "a lot of misunderstanding and many fallacies and manipulations," stressing that the matter is related to the freedoms guaranteed by law, freedom of belief and conscience and freedom of expression.
Macron added, "In France, any journalist can express his opinion freely on anyone, even the president of the republic. Freedom of expression means drawing, satire or caricature. This is our law, and it comes from afar, from the end of the 19th century, and it is important to defend it."
He considered that this law had led to satirical cartoons in newspapers, cartoons mocked by political leaders and from all religions, including the "Charlie Hebdo" newspaper that mocked Christians, Jews and rabbis. Today they are drawing about Islam and its prophet. "
In this context, the French president said, "I understand and respect the feelings of anger that this provokes, but I want in return for you to understand my role. My role is to calm things down, but also to protect these rights that are the property of the French people. There is an important difference that all Muslims who were shocked must make." To understand him. "
He stressed, "I will always defend in my country the freedom to say, write, think and draw, this does not mean that I personally support everything that is said and everything that he thinks and everything that he draws, but this means that these freedoms, these rights, human rights that have been created in France, and I believe that our message To protect it and also to protect the sovereignty of the French people. "
