French leader, Marine Le Pen, has demanded a ban on Pakistani migration following a massive backlash against the French government in Pakistan over the issue of Islamophobic remarks hurled by French President, Emmanuel Macron last month.
Protests held across Muslim countries including Pakistan and Bangladesh against the caricatures of the Holy Prophet. Calling it a national security threat, the leader of the National Rally Party, called for the ban on Pakistani immigration. In a tweet, the minister said: “In view of the new ultra-violent demonstrations today in #Bangladesh (demonstrators who called to behead our ambassador), and #Pakistan , I call for an immediate moratorium on immigration from these countries, in the name of national security. MLP.”
However, Pen is known for her anti-immigration views. She has even opposed the EU membership of Turkey and called it against the wishes of the people of Europe. She also called for the complete ban on headscarves in France.
Protests against France in Pakistan
Last week, hundreds of protestors gathered near the French Consulate in Pakistan’s largest city Karachi to protest the rising wave of Islamophobia in the European nation.
#BREAKING: French opposition leader @MLP_officiel demands that France should end immigration of refugees from #Pakistan and Bangladesh immediately in view of the violent protests and threats from these nations against France. #FranceTerrorAttack https://t.co/9dMAS8tVtv
— Aditya Raj Kaul (@AdityaRajKaul) October 31, 2020
Supporters of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), a mainstream religious party, vehemently denounced French President Emmanuel Macron’s anti-Islam remarks and the insulting caricatures of Islam being publicized in France.
They carried banners and placards with messages such as “Down with Charlie Hebdo,” “Down with France,” and “Sacrilege of Prophet Muhammed (PBUH) is unacceptable” as they marched towards the French consulate in Karachi’s upscale Clifton town.
In recent weeks, Macron has attacked Islam and the Muslim community, accusing Muslims in France of “separatism” and describing Islam as “a religion in crisis all over the world.”
Charlie Hebdo, a French satirical magazine infamous for printing anti-Islamic caricatures, republished cartoons insulting Islam earlier this year. Police contingents blocked nearby roads with barricades and stopped protesters roughly 200 meters (656 feet) from the heavily guarded French Consulate.