On October 29, the French government declared the highest level of terrorist threat. This was done after the murder of three people in Nice in Notre Dame Cathedral. The French president called the incident “an act of Islamist terrorism.” To combat terrorism, primarily to protect religious places and educational institutions, about 7,000 people will be involved in the military.
On the same day, police officers were attacked in Avignon, the attacker was shot dead. In addition, two attacks were prevented on the same day: in Lyon, a man with a knife was detained at the station, who planned to attack passengers on a tram, and in a suburb of Paris a man was detained who planned to attack people in the church.
Two weeks before, France was shocked by the murder of school teacher S. Patie, who demonstrated in his lessons caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad (peace to him and the blessings of Allah), as a demonstration of the concept of “freedom of speech.” During the actions in memory of the deceased teacher, President Macron said that he would protect republican values, in particular freedom of speech, and would not give up cartoons, in addition, these cartoons were shown on state buildings.
All this caused a wave of anti-French sentiments in the Muslim world, protests were held in many countries demanding a ban on caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad (peace to him and the blessing of Allah), leading politicians of Islamic countries warned Macron that “insulting the Prophet has nothing to do with freedom, but provokes hatred.”
On the other hand, all these events caused anti-Islamic sentiment in the country. So, on October 18 in Paris, two women shouting “return to your country” attacked Muslim women with knives.
The Political Movement “Group 24” expresses his condolences to the families and friends of the victims of all these terrible events, no religion of the world justifies terrorists and violence.
But we cannot understand the actions of President Macron. Yes, “freedom of speech” is important for the Republic, but why do not the feelings and values of about 1.5 billion followers of the Prophet (peace to him and the blessing of Allah) matter? Why in a civilized country do not know that “insulting the feelings of believers” is a crime?
Few people talk about this aloud, but everyone understands that with his careless statements and actions, the President of the French Republic involuntarily provoked all the terrible events described above.
Ordinary French suffer because of everything that happens. In the country, a difficult situation in connection with growing cases of coronavirus infection, Macron announced a new quarantine, which will begin to operate on October 30 and at least until December 1. You can leave home to make purchases of food or medicines, travel to work, if you are not able to work remotely, visit a doctor. For individual sports or pet walking, you can not leave more than 1 km. from home. Movement around the country, between regions, is prohibited. The main difference from spring quarantine: schools remain open. People are crushed due to the upcoming quarantine and imminent financial losses, and now they are also scared of everything that is happening.
Entire industries focused on the production of halal products suffer losses due to a boycott of French goods in Muslim countries.
We hope for the prudence of European politicians, and a successful resolution of the situation soon.
Today, an increasing number of French recall President Jacques Chirac and his wise words. In 2006, former French President Jacques Chirac sharply condemned the caricatures of the noble Prophet Mohammed (peace to him and the blessing of Allah) and said that if “freedom of speech” is the value of the Republic, it must be carried out in a spirit of responsibility and respect for all faiths.
We support the French people during this difficult period. The tranquillity of the people of France is the highest value, not the inverted concept of “freedom of speech”, which in this situation is nothing more than an “insult to the feelings of believers.”
Political Movement “Group 24”
