France’s Islamophobia speeds up inevitable decline of US, Israel: Iran's IRGC

Iran’s Islamic Revolution Guards Corps (IRGC) has vehemently condemned the support of French officials for derogatory cartoons against the Prophet of Islam, noting that France’s Islamophobia project only speeds up the inevitable fall of the United States and the Zionist regime.

In a statement released on Monday, the IRGC said the Islamophobia project has entered a new phase after the French Charlie Hebdo magazine reprinted derogatory cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad and the country’s “imbecile and adventurist president” supported that move.

The IRGC noted that this measure proves “a major contradiction in the West, especially [in a country like France, which claims to be] the pioneer of the so-called freedom of expression in Europe, [and] which is trying to hide its failure in preventing the progress of Islam and stymie increasing tendency of Western citizens toward Islam.”

While strongly condemning this anti-Islam measure, the IRGC statement noted that this is a “failed project, which nonetheless will speed up the inevitable fall of the United States and the Zionist regime.”

“The leaders of the hegemonic and Zionist system, who are the main sponsors of extremist and Takfiri groups... will not be able to liberate the crisis-hit and inhumane West from its self-produced quagmire, and without a doubt, they will receive appropriate answers from the Islamic Ummah in not-so-distant future, which will not be limited to boycott of French products and street protests,” the IRGC said.

In a televised address on October 1, French President Emmanuel Macron said his government was working to propose a bill to France’s parliament next year to address what he called “Islamist isolationism and separatism.” Under the plan, France will fight what Macron described as the favoring of religious laws over France’s republican, secular “values.”

Macron’s anti-Islam comments unleash backlash from Muslim activists

French President Emmanuel Macron’s anti-Islam comments have drawn widespread backlash from Muslim activists.

The French president also claimed that Islam is “a religion that is today in crisis all over the world.”

Macron has also approved the publication of blasphemous cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and stressed that his country would not give up the insulting cartoons despite harsh criticisms from Muslims.

Moreover, French teacher Samuel Paty raised controversy last week and provoked anger over showing defamatory cartoons of Islam's Prophet Muhammad to his students. Paty was decapitated by an 18-year-old assailant, identified as Chechen Abdullakh Anzorov, who was shot dead by police soon after the killing.

In a post on his official Twitter account on Monday, Iranian Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif denounced France's stance on insults to Muslims and their sanctities, saying such moves are "opportunistic abuse of freedom of speech" that would only fuel "extremism." 

Insulting Muslims, their sanctities only fuels extremism: Iran FM

Iran

"Insulting 1.9B Muslims—& their sanctities—for the abhorrent crimes of such extremists is an opportunistic abuse of freedom of speech. It only fuels extremism," Zarif tweeted.

In a statement on Monday, Iranian lawmakers also vehemently condemned Macron’s defense of blasphemy against the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) under the guise of “freedom of speech.”

Iran’s parliament lashes out at Macron over Islamophobic remarks

Iran’s parliament vehemently condemns French President Emanuel Macron’s defense of blasphemy against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

The lawmakers said by supporting acts of sacrilege against Islam, the French government “once again proved its evil nature.”

French officials should stop 'dangerous game' of insulting Muslims: Top general

Meanwhile, Chairman of the Chiefs of Staff of the Iranian Armed Forces Major General Mohammad Baqeri on Monday said the French president's inhumane remarks in support of the blasphemous cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad once again revealed the nature of the so-called advocates of human rights.

He added that Macron's remarks also "showed that they (French officials) do not have the least respect for divine religions, in contravention of international rules and principles."

It is surprising that Western countries, including France, which have created and nurtured Takfiri and terrorist groups such as Daesh, now seek to attribute "savage acts of terror" to Islam, which is the religion of mercy, wisdom and rationality, the Iranian commander said.

Baqeri condemned France's stance on insults to Muslims and said the world’s intellectual and scholars should urge French officials to stop this "dangerous game" and not evoke religious sentiments, and feelings of more than 1.5 billion Muslims.

Read more:

• Insisting on insult, Macron opens floodgates for Muslim backlash
• Muslims in France slam Macron for Islamophobic remarks
• Insulting Prophet Muhammad is not free speech: Hezbollah

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