Iran speaker slams French insults to Islam, Prophet

ANKARA (AA) - Iran's parliament speaker condemned on Sunday the publishing of insulting caricatures of the Prophet Muhammad in France.

"The stubborn and unwise French officials offend the Prophet Muhammad [peace be upon him] and stoke anti-Islam stance in the world," Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf tweeted. "Muslims and believers all condemn the abhorrent hostility of France's leaders towards the messenger of mercy, Muhammad."

Besides the provocative cartoons, earlier this month French President Emmanuel Macron described Islam as a religion "in crisis," and announced plans for tougher laws to tackle what he called "Islamist separatism" in France.

French Muslims have accused him of trying to repress their religion, and legitimizing Islamophobia.

Several Arab countries, Turkey and Pakistan have also condemned Macron's attitude toward Muslims and Islam, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan saying the French leader needs "mental treatment."

* Bassel Barakat contributed to this report from Ankara