French Diplomat Summoned by Kuala Lumpur Amidst Growing Anti-Islam Rhetoric in France

French magazine Charlie Hebdo has been accused of publishing Islamophobic content (Cath.ch).

France’s charges d’affairs in Kuala Lumpur was called to the Malaysian Foreign Ministry in retaliation to the growing hate speech and slander against Islam on October 28. After a teacher at a French school displayed of a derogatory cartoon depicting the Prophet Muhammad, a plethora of Muslim-majority countries have condemned French leadership’s inaction against Islamophobia. The cartoon was published by the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Malaysian Foreign Minister Hishammudin Hussein clearly stated that Malaysia is dedicated to the idea of freedom of speech and expression, until and unless, “these rights are exercised with respect and responsibility in order to not infringe on or violate the rights of others.” 

French President Emmanuel Macron defended the cartoon by referring to Islam as a “religion in crisis all over the world.” In response to displaying the cartoon in the classroom, the French teacher was beheaded by an attacker of Chechen origin. 

Malaysia strongly condemned the French government’s stance, and the Foreign Ministry explicitly concluded that "Malaysia is of the view that such elevated tension does not bode well for the peaceful co-existence of all religions." However, as tensions grow, the Ministry has yet to deliver a comment on the violent beheading of the school teacher.