India came out in support of French President Emmanuel Macron, whom Pakistan and Turkey have targeted for strongly defending the French people’s right to freedom of expression.
India has strongly deplored the personal attacks in unacceptable language on President of France Emmanuel Macron in violation of the most basic standards of international discourse.
In a statement, the External Affairs Ministry said, India also condemned the brutal terrorist attack that took the life of a French teacher in a gruesome manner that has shocked the world. It said, India offers condolences to his family and the people of France. The Ministry said, there is no justification for terrorism for any reason or under any circumstance.
New Delhi joined major European countries in condemning the personal attacks against the French President.
Condemning the brutal murder of Samuel Paty and defending the freedom of expression, Emanuel Macron had said: “We will continue… We will defend the freedom that you taught so well and we will bring secularism.” France, the President said, would “not give up cartoons, drawings, even if others back down”.
In response, Turkey’s President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan Niazi had launched a verbal attack against the French President. Erdogan accused Macron of running an anti-Islamic agenda, and said the French President needed a “mental health check”. Imran Khan Niazi said Macron was encouraging anti-Muslim sentiments and provoking Muslims.
Following the statement by the MEA, France’s Ambassador to India Emmanuel Lenain posted on Twitter: Thank you @MEAIndia. France and India can always count on each other in the fight against terrorism.” Notably, France has been extremely supportive of India at the UN Security Council on the issues like Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan-sponsored terrorism.
