French Envoy to Iran Summoned over Insults to Islamic Sanctities
The French charge d'affaires was called in on Monday over insults against the Holy Prophet (PBUH), the ministry’s media affairs department said.
The Foreign Ministry’s deputy director general of the Europe Department told the French diplomat that Iran strongly rejects and condemns any insult and disrespect to the Prophet of Islam and Islam’s pure values by any person regardless of their position.
The Iranian official underlined that fanning the flames of Islamophobia and hatred in the name of freedom of speech is deeply regrettable.
The French envoy said he would relay Iran’s message of protest to authorities in his country.
French President Emmanuel Macron earlier this month pledged to fight “Islamist separatism”, which he said was threatening to take control in some Muslim communities around France.
He also described Islam as a religion “in crisis” worldwide and said the government would present a bill in December to strengthen a 1905 law that officially separated church and state in France.
His comments, in addition to his backing of satirical outlets publishing caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), have drawn widespread condemnation from Muslims across the world.
