MUCH has been said and written about the events that unfolded in France on the act of violence perpetrated by an 18-year-old Muslim Russian refugee of Chechen ethnicity following a classroom lesson on freedom of expression which featured Charlie Hebdo cartoons on the Prophet Muhammad.

The subsequent defence by French President Emmanuel Macron on the showing of the cartoons as a right to freedom of expression has understandably outraged Muslims all over the world. The cartoons were also splashed on billboards all over France.

While displaying the cartoons may be regarded as the right to freedom of expression on the part of French society, we, the undersigned organisations Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM) and Allied Coordinating Council of Islamic NGOs Malaysia (ACCIN) would humbly remind Monsieur Macron, Honourable President of France that such expressions would be looked upon by most Muslims as Islamophobia, insensitive and offensive.

The act of violence perpetrated by the Muslim Russian refugee and a Tunisian young man that led to the killing of four people is most regrettable. We would like to offer our sincere message of condolences to the victims’ families and the people of France in this moment of horror and shock.

We would also categorically condemn all forms of violence and aggression as a response to the act on the part of the French in the display of the cartoons of the Prophet, however offensive or disrespectful that may be. Violence and aggressive confrontation begets violence and would not resolve any dispute or ill feelings. The incidents highlight the importance of the virtues of sincerity and acceptance and the need for fruitful dialogue and accommodation in resolving the current tension and stand-off in French society.

While urging for restraint in these circumstances, it must be pointed out that there are many Muslim immigrants in France who may have been deprived of opportunities for development and social mobility or perhaps alienated from mainstream society. This may account for the innate anger and extreme tendencies we are witnessing.

French society, therefore, needs to emphatically understand its neighbours. They must embrace the virtues of love, kindness, compassion and exercise sensitivity towards the feelings and sentiments of their neighbours, in particular, their fellow citizen, Muslims neighbours and others.

Muslims in France have the right to be respected for their religion. This right to freedom of religion and belief is protected by the French constitution and legal system. All citizens regardless of their origin, race or religion must, therefore, be treated as equals before the law.

We, therefore, call on the people of France to continue the embrace of diversity, respect and show sensitivity to the people of other faiths and religious persuasions since multiculturalism has always been an integral part of French society.

We are hopeful that this very unfortunate and regrettable incident in France will present positive lessons to French society, and indeed even Malaysia; that justice and peaceful co-existence with respect for each other is the bedrock of a modern, progressive and harmonious society. – November 9, 2020.

* Badlishah Sham Baharin is chair of Gabungan Bertindak Malaysia (GBM); Mohd Jamaludin Shamsudin is chief executive officer of the Allied Coordinating Council of Islamic NGOs Malaysia (ACCIN).

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.