THE Foreign Ministry has reiterated Malaysia’s condemnation of any rhetoric or provocative actions that seek to defame Islam, such as the publication of caricatures depicting Prophet Muhammad.

The stance was made known during a meeting with the French embassy’s chargés d’affaires, who was called to Wisma Putra today.

“Malaysia is committed to upholding freedom of speech and expression as a human right as long as this right is exercised with respect and responsibility, so as not to contradict and violate the rights of others,” the ministry said in a statement tonight.

In the meeting, Malaysia also expressed concern over the growing hostility, hate speech and slander against Islam.

“Malaysia is of the opinion that such tensions will not allow for the peaceful coexistence of all religions,” it said.

The statement also emphasised the importance of initiatives to reduce and eliminate Islamophobia at all levels, and that Malaysia will continue to work with the international community to increase mutual respect between religions and prevent religious extremism.

French President Emmanuel Macron recently defended his nation’s secular values and the right to mock religion following the murder of a French schoolteacher who had shown his class cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad.

On October 16, the teacher, Samuel Paty, was beheaded on the outskirts of Paris. 

Macron’s comments triggered protests and a call to boycott French goods in some Muslim-majority countries. – Bernama, October 28, 2020.