Former Moroccan Leader Condemns French Terror Attacks and Macron’s Stance on Islam

"I am as sad as you since the French president began his campaign against Islam, following the caricatures that cost the life of the history teacher, but I tell Macron that he must not attack the values and beliefs of others, under the guise of freedom of expression. Macron was wrong in his approach," he declared, through a video published on social media, on Thursday, October 29, 2020.

Addressing Muslims, especially those in France, Abdelalih Benkirane, stressed that "the violence committed in the name of the defense of the Prophet Sidna Mohammed, is not legally and religiously permitted, it is prohibited in Islam." "Defending the prophet cannot be done through violence. This has been my conviction for a long time. If you think that the use of violence will lead you to divine rewards, I tell you that this is not the right way," he hammered. At least, "according to what I know, it is not formally permitted to engage in civil violence by attacking citizens whose country hosts Muslim migrants," he nuanced, so as not to tarnish his political convictions.

The former secretary general of the PJD party also recalled that in case of an attack on Islam "one can respond through dialogue, demonstrations and even through a call for a boycott if necessary", inviting the ulemas, "to instill these values in the Muslim public".