Advertisement

Erdogan calls French separatism bill 'guillotine' of democracy

AFP
AFP - [email protected]
Erdogan calls French separatism bill 'guillotine' of democracy
Turkish President and leader of Justice and Development (AK) Party Recep Tayyip Erdogan speaks during his ruling AK Party's group meeting at the Grand National Assembly of Turkey (GNAT), in Ankara, on April 21, 2021. (Photo by Adem ALTAN / AFP)

Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Wednesday denounced a planned French law designed to counter "Islamist separatism" as a "guillotine" of democracy.

Advertisement

The draft legislation has been criticised both inside France and abroad for stigmatising Muslims and giving the state new powers to limit speech and religious groups.

"The adoption of this law, which is openly in contradiction of human rights, freedom of religion and European values, will be a guillotine blow inflicted on French democracy," said Erdogan in a speech in Ankara.

The current version of the planned law would only serve the cause of extremism, putting NGOs under pressure and "forcing young people to choose between their beliefs and their education", he added.

READ ALSO: What's in France's new law to crack down on Islamist extremism?

"We call on the French authorities, and first of all President (Emmanuel) Macron, to act sensibly," he continued. "We expect a rapid withdrawal of this bill."

Erdogan also said he was ready to work with France on security issues and integration, but relations between the two leaders have been strained for some time.

France's government is in the process of passing new legislation to crack down on what it has termed "Islamist separatism", which would give the state more power to vet and disband religious groups judged to be threats to the nation.

Erdogan has already denounced the proposed measures as "anti-Muslim".

READ ALSO: Has Macron succeeded in creating an 'Islam for France'?

Last October, Erdogan questioned Macron's "mental health", accusing him of waging a "campaign of hatred" against Islam, after the French president defended the right of cartoonists to caricature the prophet Mohammed.

The two countries are also at odds on a number of other issues, including Libya, Syria and the eastern Mediterranean.

More

Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.

Please log in to leave a comment.

juncit 2021/05/13 21:38
I'm not sure we have much to learn about democracy from this gentleman.
  • thelocal_462458 2021/05/14 13:23
    Sure he has a lot of first hand experience of destroying a democracy...

See Also