Concerned Muslims on social media have reacted to the statement attributed to the French President, Emmanuel Macron, accusing him of hypocrisy.
Macron was quoted by the media to have defended the decision by Charlie Hebdo magazine to republish offensive caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (SAW), saying France has freedom of expression and belief.”
But Muslim netizens were quick to remind the President of the ban on niqob, burqa, Muslim women face veil, considered as a violation against their freedom of belief.
In 2010, France passed a law prohibiting Muslim ladies from wearing niqob and burqa or any other clothes that cover their face and violators are liable to punish with fine or citizenship course.
Muslim News investigations revealed that the French government’s intolerance and disdain for the Islamic attire was so glaring that in 2020, when citizens were mandated to use face mask as a result of COVID-19 pandemic, the interior minister office confirmed that the ban of niqob, burqa was still in place.
“So, while French citizens nationwide will be covering their faces, Muslim women who do so with Islamic garb are still subject to punishment. Yet, the government says there is freedom of belief in France,” a social media user said.
NOTE:
▪︎ Muslim News Nigeria doesn’t and will never support killing of innocent souls and vandalisation of properties by individuals or groups under any guise.
▪︎ At the same time, this medium condemns any assault on Islamic symbols, including the Prophet (SAW) by any individual or group all in the name of free speech.
▪︎ This medium therefore calls for fairness and justice in protecting all religious symbols, including Islam, from being ridiculed and mocked by troublemakers.
