Hulhumale’, Maldives – Steak & Coffee Bar, being operated in Hulhumale’ has announced that it was boycotting all French products at their steakhouse in protest after French President Emmanuel Macron publicly defended cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed.
The steakhouse posted the announcement on their Facebook page and said that they would continue the boycott until a full apology by President Emmanuel Macron is made to the Muslim community. President Macron had made the remarks last week during that tribute to the murdered high school teacher Samuel Paty, who was beheaded earlier this month during a terror attack in a northern suburb of Paris.
Macron had also announced a plan “to reform Islam” in order to make it more compatible with France’s republican values.
Many have called out that Macron’s comments were Islamophobic and would encourage hate against Muslims, extremism and violence around the world. Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan had stated that Macron was spreading hatred and had also called to boycott French products. He also said that Macron needs mental treatment which lead to the French to recall their ambassador to Turkey.
Other countries such as Morocco and Pakistan also denounced the remarks by Macron as cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed, which are considered blasphemous in Islam. The Moroccan foreign ministry released a statement stating that freedom of an individual ends where the freedom of others and their beliefs begin and also stated that freedom of expression cannot explain the attacks and provocations on Islam, a religion with nearly 2 billion adherents worldwide.
