Iranian director slams Macron's insult against Islam

Iran’s Mohammad-Reza Varzi, the director of ‘The Enigma of the Shah’, has decried French President Emmanuel Macron for encouraging blasphemous cartoons targeting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

“Does freedom mean insulting!!?? Does democracy mean crossing moral rules?!  Are insulting beliefs and religious sanctities a sign of civilization??!” Varzi asked in a letter addressed to Macron, a copy of which was sent to Fars news agency on Tuesday.

Varzi slammed Macron's support for the publication of offensive caricatures of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) as a kind of freedom of expression, while French security forces showed no tolerance to “Yellow-Vest” anti-government protests.

He said such insults spark Muslims' anger, but stressed that they would not lower the dignity of the Prophet.

The 47-year-old director also praised Muslims around the world who condemned Macron’s “shameful” comments.

His remarks came after French history teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded by a Chechen teenager on October 16 after showing his students the offensive caricatures published by the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. The teen was shot dead by police soon after the murder.

Macron described the teacher as a “quiet hero”, and pledged his country would not “give up cartoons” depicting Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

His comments sparked anger in the Muslim world, prompting calls for the boycott of French products.

SQ/AG