This letter comes after PM Khan accused French President Macron of “encouraging Islamophobia” after his divisive speech on tackling “Islamic separatism”.
This letter comes after PM Khan accused French President Macron of “encouraging Islamophobia” after his divisive speech on tackling “Islamic separatism”.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Imran Khan has issued a letter on Wednesday to the leaders of Muslim-majority countries in response to the growing Islamophobic tensions within France and concerning President Macron.
Khan’s office has stated that the letter has implored these leaders – who have not been specifically named – “to act collectively to counter growing Islamophobia in non-Muslim states”. This letter comes after PM Khan accused French President Macron of “encouraging Islamophobia” after his divisive speech on tackling “Islamic separatism”.
France is still reeling after the tragic murder of a schoolteacher who showed cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed in class, as well as the growing number of Islamophobic hate-crimes against French Muslims by French citizens spurred on by Macron’s statements against Islam. Alongside these Islamophobic attacks going largely unreported in France, there was tragically another attack in a church in Nice, where at least three civilians were murdered in a continuation of extreme tensions in France.
In response to this, Imran Khan’s letter called upon Muslim-majority states to join together in combatting the growing reality of Islamophobia on a state-level and stated:
Recent statements at the leadership level…are a reflection of this increasing Islamophobia that is spreading in European countries where sizeable Muslim populations reside. As a result, a dangerous cycle of actions and reactions are set in motion.”
The letter also addressed the issue of Macron’s support for showing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammed, stating: “Hurtful actions result in reactions from Muslims as they see their faith and their beloved Prophet targeted which results in further discriminatory actions by governments against Muslim populations in their states, resulting in the marginalization of Muslims and the creating of space for radical, far-right groups to exploit the situation”.
Many have reacted supportively to Khan’s letter and open statements against French President Macron’s handling of the rising tensions in France, although on the other hand, many continue to questions the state of affairs within the Muslim world as well. Muslim-majority states include countries like the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, and Sudan, all of who have recently normalized ties with Israel – this, unfortunately, points towards the double standard that many heads of states hold within the Muslim world.
Nevertheless, both Imran Khan’s letter and the role of Pakistan in world politics has had a divisive response across the internet:
After Erdogan, #ImranKhan is going to be the one of the best leaders of #Muslim world. Well done, That’s what a real leader would do on such a sensitive issue at difficult times.
— Shahjhan Malik | #WearAMask (@shahjhan_malikk) October 28, 2020
Did you mention what next steps will Pakistan take if things remained unchanged at their end? No you don’t!!!
Why not?
Everyone please consider this letter above political affiliation & tell me where Imran Khan mentioned about our next step.— Rashid Hashmi (@RashidHashmis) October 28, 2020
What's more Islamophobic than blowing up little kids in madrassahs & in school? How about taking action against terrorists in the country you are running? #Peshawarblast #APS
— Maheen Usmani (@MaheenUsmani) October 28, 2020
As world leaders such as Imran Khan make public statements for solidarity and action, the growing tensions within France continue to spill over the country’s supposed balance of secularism and freedom of worship – as many Muslims in France continue to be targetted after Macron’s highly divisive statements, along with the horrendous acts of terror and extremism, it remains to be seen how the country will come together as one.
