IMMEDIATE RELEASE – 28 OCTOBER 2020
Awqaf SA notes with utter disgust the current offensive attacks on the venerated Prophet of humanity, Muhammad (Peace and Blessings Be upon Him) emanating from France.
We also note with deep concern the grossly uninformed statements of French President Macron that Islam is in a “crisis”. Islam is the fastest growing faith on earth, hardly the sign of a “crisis”.
Muslims respect and love all Prophets. Islam affords all Prophets of God equal honour, and the veneration afforded to them is a central tenet of our faith.
The caricatures widely distributed in the French media seek only to demonize the Holy personality of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), whilst at the same time unnecessarily provoke and insult over a billion Muslims across the globe.
Freedom of speech, a human right, does not – however – allow carte blanche disrespect, hate speech and statements that have the potential to cause a modern day holocaust of the minority Muslim community in France.
The irresponsible, dangerous statements by the French President will only serve to ignite a rash of Islamaphobic attacks on the Muslim community.
The values of democracy, egalitarianism, liberty and freedom, as espoused in the founding principles of the French Republic, are aimed at protecting vulnerable communities, not exterminating them.
Furthermore, the unwarranted vilification of Muslim leaders, like Turkey’s President Erdogan who has championed on behalf of the Muslim world the dignity of the Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), must stop immediately.
We further call on the people of France to reject these Islamaphobic attacks and realise that these provocations are being used as a political tool in French aspirations of neo-colonialism in the Mediterranean and northern African region.
We pray that respect and dignity for religious freedoms and expression prevails.
—–ENDS—-
More Info:
Mickaeel Collier (Deputy CEO)
0822164269 | info@awqafsa.org.za
