Following Macron's statement, Indonesia's Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) will gather and protest at the French Embassy. (Image via Warta Ekonomi)

FPI to protest at French Embassy, demanding Macron's apology

Islamic Defenders Front (FPI) claimed that the protest at the French Embassy office in Jakarta on Monday afternoon will also be joined by thousands of people from other Islamic groups and organizations. The information was confirmed by FPI's lawyer, Aziz Yanuar. The protest aims to condemn the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, for his statement that seems to harass the world's second-largest religion.

Aziz explained that later on, the protesters will gather first at Cut Meutia mosque on Menteng, Central Jakarta, to perform mass Dhuhr Salah. After that, the protesters will walk to the French Embassy at M.H. Thamrin Street. They will deliver some demands to the French embassy, one of which is to urge Macron to apologize to the world's Islamic community and promise not to repeat the same deed. Moreover, Aziz also demanded the French government not to protect the French satire magazine, Charlie Hebdo, as it has defamed the foremost icon of Islam, Prophet Muhammad SAW. One of the forms of the protest is by boycotting French products.

Various anti-Macron protests in the Muslim countries emerged following Macron's outrageous statement against Islam. Macron released the statement after the murder and beheading of Samuel Paty, a history teacher using Charlie Hebdo's Muhammad caricature as an example of freedom of expression.

Macron himself had already clarified the matter previously. In a Saturday's interview at Qatar-based TV station, Al Jazeera, Macron already made a clearer, softer version of the statement. He said that he actually understood why Islamic people could not accept the caricature. Yet, he still condemned the violence befalling Samuel Paty. Macron asserted that it is the responsibility of the French government to protect its people rights and freedom indiscriminately.

Source: https://bit.ly/3267wQG