Saudi Arabia: Samuel Paty's Beheading May Have Sparked Islamophobia, But It Was Macron Who Expanded The Hatred

JAKARTA - Saudi Arabia has joined the movement to criticize French President Emmanuel Macron. Saudi Arabia views the cartoon appearance of the Prophet Muhammad as an insult to Muslims. And Macron's stance is another issue that expands the matter.

An official with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Saudi Arabia called for another Islamic country to put firm pressure on France. Saudis themselves have now called for a boycott of the French supermarket chain Carrefour. The call is trending on social media.

Saudi Arabia also asked French officials not to anger the wider Muslim community with controversial statements.

"Freedom of expression and culture must be a beacon of respect, tolerance and peace. This is to reject practices and actions that create hatred, violence and extremism," he said in a statement quoted by CNA, Tuesday, October 27.

Previously, the cartoon polemic of the Prophet Muhammad had angered the world's Muslim leaders. Some of them are Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. No kidding, Erdogan called for a boycott of French products.

Apart from Erdogan, Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan also urged the French government to stop everything that humiliates the Prophet Muhammad. In fact, Imran said, if France did not respond to this issue in a wise and peaceful manner, Pakistan would withdraw its envoy from Paris.