On 24 January, the London based Al-Quds Al-Arabi published a report about a communiqué issued by the International Union of Muslim Scholars (IUMS). In this communiqué, the IUMS’s Secretary-General Ali Al-Qara Daghi called on the French government to stop interfering in Islamic affairs and to treat Islam like any other religion.
The IUMS reportedly criticised the French president, and accused him of devoting most of his time to undermining Islam and restricting Muslims. The IUMS said that President Macron should “adhere to human rights and freedoms”, and “undo steps which tear the French people further apart and do not serve peaceful coexistence and human dignity”. And the IUMS called on the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and international human rights organisations to demand that the French government show respect for the uniqueness of Islam and the rights of Muslims.
In addition, the communiqué called on scholars in France and elsewhere in the world to reject any racism and religious discrimination against Islam and its followers. It also urged Muslims in France, their imams and their Islamic centres to unite in order to preserve the tenets of their religion; to defend their rights by legal means; to cooperate with civil and human rights organisations; and to unite with all who stand for truth and justice.
Prior to this statement, the IUMS had been encouraging a boycotting of French products and dedicated a special seminar to this issue towards the end of December 2020.