Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan says the French president Emmanuel Macron needed treatment and “mental checks” over his attitude towards Muslims and Islam.
“What is the problem of this person called Macron with Muslims and Islam? Macron needs treatment on a mental level,” Erdogan said in a speech at a provincial congress of his AK Party in the central Turkish city of Kayseri.
“What else can be said to a head of state who does not understand freedom of belief and who behaves in this way to millions of people living in his country who are members of a different faith?” Erdogan added.
France recalled its envoy to Turkey for consultations after viewing Erdogan’s speech “unacceptable”.
“President Erdogan’s comments are unacceptable. Excess and rudeness are not a method. We demand that Erdogan change the course of his policy because it is dangerous in every respect,” the official was quoted as saying.
Earlier this month, Macron pledged to fight “Islamist separatism”, describing Islam as a religion “in crisis” worldwide and said the government would present a bill in December to strengthen a 1905 law that officially separated church and state in France.
His comments were met with another harsh response from Erdogan who said Macron’s remarks were “a clear provocation” and showed the French leader’s “impertinence”.
A history teacher was beheaded outside Paris earlier this month after showing cartoons of Prophet Muhammad which were published by a French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
Macron said France “will not give up our cartoons” arguing it’s freedom of expression which is central to France’s identity.
