President Macron’s recent anti-Islam rhetoric is yet another example of a desperate European politician vying for relevance. His flailing attempt to assume leadership in Europe is driving his promotion of Islamophobia, xenophobia, and his attacks on our President Erdogan.
Macron is not simply discriminating against Muslims in his own country and in Europe. He is doing this for a political purpose, trying to instrumentalize fears and ignorance. Macron is following the old Fascist playbook that targeted Jews in Europe in this manner.
We need to call out such irresponsible figures whose statements and actions are not simply the effect but the cause of hostility against Islam. Politicians like Macron are savoring opportunities to condemn a whole religion in order to cover their failings at the home front.
Targeting Muslims seems much easier and politically expedient for European leaders like Macron, who should be focusing on finding the culprits of terrorism in his country instead of projecting his failure to protect French citizens onto the great civilization of Islam.
In seeking geopolitical relevance in the Mediterranean, Macron has already tried to present Muslims as simply the southern neighbors of Europe. In reality, Muslims and Turkey are very much in the center of the Mediterranean region and will not go away!
Macron is very much aware that what he calls Islamic separatism is a farce. Muslims have been living in the Mediterranean and Europe for centuries. He is the one trying to sow discord and division among co-habitants in this region.
He is attacking Turkey and our President Erdogan because they are the living proof that the Mediterranean region is not the property or colonies of Europe. When he attacks us, it is because we consistently confront his racist and colonialist mindset.
To be clear, Macron’s rhetoric and actions are anathema to ideals and principles that Europe claims to aspire. Freedom of speech, multiculturalism, tolerance, and respect for religion are being attacked by Macron himself. This is a grave threat for Europe.
There is a very fine line between Islamophobia and anti-Semitism. They are driven by similar racist and fear-mongering impulses. When Macron is one of the leading voices of Islamophobia today, we will not be surprised when he utters anti-Semitic statements tomorrow!
This situation does not bode well for the relations between the EU and the Muslim world. Muslims’ perception of Europe will only deteriorate further but they will not respond in kind. Muslims will not fall into Macron’s trap of hatred and division.
Once again, we condemn the killing of the French teacher in the strongest terms. Islam is a religion of peace and it cannot be used to justify taking any lives.
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