Tensions between France and Turkey escalate following Erdogan’s comments about Macron needing “mental treatment”

ANKARA / PARIS — Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan criticized French President Emmanuel Macron following France’s national crack down on Islamic extremists following the beheading of French teacher Samuel Paty (47) by Abdullah Anzurov (18), a Chechen refugee angry at the teacher displaying a cartoon of the Prophet Mohammed during a lesson on freedom of speech.

France has the largest population of Muslims in Western Europe and many complain that French authorities use secularism to specifically target them, often citing the banning of the hijab.

In a public address on 2 October, Macron said that “Islamist separatism” was a danger to France because it held its own laws above all others and “often results in the creation of a counter-society”.

“Islam is a religion that is in crisis all over the world today, we are not just seeing this in our country,” he said.

During the public address, Macron announced he will urge parliament to pass legislation before the end of the year that includes stricter monitoring of sports organizations and other associations so that they do not become a front for Islamist teaching, an end to the system of imams being sent to France from abroad, improved oversight of the financing of mosques, and stricter conditions for home-schooling.

Macron also said France must do more to offer economic and social mobility to immigrant communities so that radicals cannot fill the vacuum left by the state.

Erdogan has been critical, and characteristically bombastic, about Macron’s domestic policies regarding Islam in France, remarking on Saturday that Macron needs “mental treatment”.

Erdogan’s remarks have provoked a harsh French reaction, including the recalling of France’s ambassador to Turkey.

The French presidency condemned Erdogan’s remarks, calling them unacceptable, and stated that allies should not speak to one another with exaggeration and insolence.

European intellectuals and political leaders have supported Macron and rebuked Erdogan.

The policy line in 🇹🇷 has gone completely off any reasonable discourse in its new conflict with 🇫🇷. If 🇹🇷 wants a partnership with 🇪🇺 also to safeguard its own different interests this is certainly not the way. https://t.co/fsScnjVWUM

— Carl Bildt (@carlbildt) October 26, 2020

President Erdogan’s words addressing President @EmmanuelMacron are unacceptable. The Netherlands stands firmly with France and for the collective values of the European Union. For the freedom of speech and against extremism and radicalism.

— Mark Rutte (@MinPres) October 26, 2020

Les propos du Président @RTErdogan à l’égard du Président @EmmanuelMacron sont inacceptables. Appel à la Turquie à cesser cette spirale dangereuse de confrontation.

— Josep Borrell Fontelles (@JosepBorrellF) October 25, 2020

Plutôt qu'un agenda positif la Turquie choisit les provocations, les actions unilatérales en Méditerranée et maintenant les injures.

C’est intolérable.

Respect pour l'Europe et ses États membres #EUCO

— Charles Michel (@eucopresident) October 25, 2020

Erdogan has in turn called for a boycott of French products.

#BREAKING: Turkey's President Erdogan calls on Turkish people never to buy French products pic.twitter.com/B4kjbwQqSd

— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) October 26, 2020