Protesters chant ‘Allahu Akbar’ in Jakarta after Indonesia condemns Macron

Protests against Emmanuel Macron have continued across the Muslim world in the wake of his comments over depictions of the Prophet Mohammed.

In Jakarta, more than 2,000 demonstrators wearing white Islamic robes gathered in front of the French embassy to express their outrage, and burned an effigy of the French President.

Meanwhile in Bangladesh, at least 50,000 people took part in the biggest demonstration yet over Macron’s remarks defending the controversial cartoons.

In Dhaka, Bangladesh, at least 50,000 people gathered to protest against Emmanuel Macron after he defended cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed

Supporters and activists of the Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, an Islamist political party, burn an effigy of French president Emmanuel Macron

Supporters and activists of the Hefazat-e-Islam Bangladesh, an Islamist political party, burn an effigy of French president Emmanuel Macron

A protester burns a poster of Macron outside the French Institute in Bandung, Indonesia, as outrage continues in the wake of his comments about depicting the Prophet Mohammed

A protester burns a poster of Macron outside the French Institute in Bandung, Indonesia, as outrage continues in the wake of his comments about depicting the Prophet Mohammed

In Bangladesh, at least 50,000 people took part in the biggest demonstration yet over Macron's remarks

In Bangladesh, at least 50,000 people took part in the biggest demonstration yet over Macron’s remarks

In Jakarta, authorities blocked streets leading to the embassy where more than 1,000 police and soldiers were deployed

In Jakarta, authorities blocked streets leading to the embassy where more than 1,000 police and soldiers were deployed

Muslims offer congregational prayers in front of a banner which depicts Macros as the devil in Jakarta

Muslims offer congregational prayers in front of a banner which depicts Macros as the devil in Jakarta

A rally which started at Bangladesh’s biggest mosque was stopped from getting close to the French embassy where security has been stepped up.

Police estimated some 50,000 people took part in the protest, which demanded a boycott of French products, while organisers said there were more than 100,000.

Protesters chanted ‘No defamation of the Prophet Mohammed’ and burned an effigy of the French leader.

Macron sparked protests across the Muslim world after the murder last month of teacher Samuel Paty – who had shown his class a cartoon of Mohammed – by saying France would never renounce its laws permitting blasphemous caricatures.

The third major anti-France demonstration in Bangladesh in the past week was called by Hefazat-i-Islami, one of the biggest radical Muslim political groups in the country of 160 million people.

On Saturday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo strongly condemned terrorist attacks in Paris and Nice as well as remarks by Macron

On Saturday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo strongly condemned terrorist attacks in Paris and Nice as well as remarks by Macron

The protesters chanted 'God is Great' and 'Boycott French products' as they marched against the French President

The protesters chanted ‘God is Great’ and ‘Boycott French products’ as they marched against the French President

Banners and placards slammed Macron, and some protesters stomped on Macron posters in the blocked street

Banners and placards slammed Macron, and some protesters stomped on Macron posters in the blocked street

Many people came from towns outside Dhaka to take part in the rally.

Junaid Babunagaori, the firebrand deputy chief of Hezafat, called on Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina to move the Bangladesh parliament to condemn Macron.

‘I call on traders to throw away French products. I ask the UN to take stern action against France,’ he told the rally.

In Jakarta, authorities blocked streets leading to the embassy where more than 1,000 police and soldiers were deployed in and around the building barricaded with razor wire.

Protesters chanted 'No defamation of the Prophet Mohammed' and burned an effigy of the French leader

Protesters chanted ‘No defamation of the Prophet Mohammed’ and burned an effigy of the French leader

Smaller protests also occurred in other Indonesian cities, including in Surabaya, Makassar, Medan and Bandung

Smaller protests also occurred in other Indonesian cities, including in Surabaya, Makassar, Medan and Bandung

Protesters kick a photo showing the French President as thousands gathered to express their outrage at his comments

Protesters kick a photo showing the French President as thousands gathered to express their outrage at his comments

The protesters chanted ‘God is Great’ and ‘Boycott French products’ as they marched. Their banners and placards slammed Macron, and some protesters stomped on Macron posters in the blocked streets. 

Smaller protests also occurred in other Indonesian cities, including in Surabaya, Makassar, Medan and Bandung.

On Saturday, Indonesian President Joko Widodo strongly condemned terrorist attacks in Paris and Nice as well as remarks by Macron that were deemed offensive toward Islam and Muslims.

At a national memorial for a teacher who was beheaded near Paris last month, Macron said the teacher ‘was the victim of a conspiracy of stupidity, hate, lies … hate of the other … hate of what we profoundly are.’

Macron has been accused of spreading anti-Muslim sentiment while eulogizing the teacher beheaded last month

Macron has been accused of spreading anti-Muslim sentiment while eulogizing the teacher beheaded last month

In France, murdered teacher Samuel Paty was honoured at schools across the country with a one minute silence as students returned after holiday

In France, murdered teacher Samuel Paty was honoured at schools across the country with a one minute silence as students returned after holiday

On Thursday morning, three people were knifed to death in a church in the southern city of Nice in another strike the government described as an act of 'Islamist' terror

On Thursday morning, three people were knifed to death in a church in the southern city of Nice in another strike the government described as an act of ‘Islamist’ terror

Widodo said freedom of expression that tarnishes the honor, sanctity and sacredness of religious values and symbols could not be justified and must be stopped.

‘Linking religion with terrorist acts is a big mistake,’ Widodo said. ‘Terrorism is terrorism, terrorists are terrorists, terrorism has nothing to do with any religion.’

Macron has been accused of spreading anti-Muslim sentiment while eulogizing the teacher beheaded last month.

Protest organizer Slamet Ma´arif told the crowd, including members of the Islamic Defenders Front vigilante group, that Macron was being aggressively hostile to Islam and called for a boycott on French products.

‘It hurt us deeply and we demanded him to retract his words and apologizes to the Muslim communities all over the world,’ he said from a truck modified with loudspeakers.

The French Embassy said Macron made a distinction between Islam and militancy.

Protesters called for a boycott on French products in Jakarta as they gathered outside the French embassy

Protesters called for a boycott on French products in Jakarta as they gathered outside the French embassy

They branded Macron a 'terrorist' for his strong comments in the wake of a string of attacks in France

They branded Macron a ‘terrorist’ for his strong comments in the wake of a string of attacks in France

‘President Emmanuel Macron made it clear that there was no intention at all to generalize, and clearly distinguished between the majority of French Muslims and the militant, separatist minority that is hostile to the values of the French Republic,’ the embassy´s statement said.

In France, murdered teacher Samuel Paty was honoured at schools across the country with a one minute silence as students returned after holiday.  

Schoolchildren across France were to observe a minute of silence at 11am to remember the teacher, who was killed in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, outside Paris, on October 16 just as the holiday began.

Schools reopened on Monday with added security following the string of attacks.

On Thursday morning, three people were knifed to death in a church in the southern city of Nice in another strike the government described as an act of ‘Islamist’ terror.

Macron has vowed to defend the right to freedom of speech and that France will never renounce caricatures

Macron has vowed to defend the right to freedom of speech and that France will never renounce caricatures

There was furore in the Muslim word after the republication of cartoons of the prophet Mohammed in September by the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo

There was furore in the Muslim word after the republication of cartoons of the prophet Mohammed in September by the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo

‘I know your emotion after the terrorist attacks, including one in front of a school against a teacher,’ Macron said in a message to pupils on his Snapchat, Instagram and Facebook social media channels.

‘Today, in class, you will pay homage to Samuel Paty. We will all think of him, you and your teachers,’ he said, adding: ‘The plan of terrorism is to manufacture hatred.’

Prosecutors say Paty was beheaded by an 18-year-old Chechen man, Abdullakh Anzorov, who was killed by police.

Prime Minister Jean Castex was also due to travel to Conflans-Sainte-Honorine to pay his respects to Paty alongside Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer.

The stabbing rampage in Nice is suspected to have been carried out by Brahim Issaoui

The stabbing rampage in Nice is suspected to have been carried out by Brahim Issaoui

Schools in France reopened with the country at maximum terror alert and parents told not to linger at school gates after dropping off their children

Schools in France reopened with the country at maximum terror alert and parents told not to linger at school gates after dropping off their children

Children walk past armed Operation Sentinelle soldiers stationed outside their school in Paris as schools reopened under added security

Children walk past armed Operation Sentinelle soldiers stationed outside their school in Paris as schools reopened under added security

French Prime Minister Jean Castex and Education, Youth and Sports Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer attend a homage to slain teacher Samuel Paty

French Prime Minister Jean Castex and Education, Youth and Sports Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer attend a homage to slain teacher Samuel Paty

Schools in France reopened with the country at maximum terror alert and parents told not to linger at school gates after dropping off their children.

The school where Paty taught at Conflans-Saint-Honorine reopened for teachers only. France’s prime minister minister, Jean Castex, arrived to lend support. Other schools throughout the country resumed as usual to both students and teachers.

Throughout the country, students will read the letter of Jean Jaures, a 19th century French thinker and politician, to instructors urging them to teach the country’s children to ‘know France, its geography and its history, its body and its soul.’  

Macron has vowed to defend the right to freedom of speech and that France will never renounce caricatures, after the furore created in the Muslim word by the republication of cartoons of the prophet Mohammed in September by the satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo.

The stabbing rampage in Nice is suspected to have been carried out by Brahim Issaoui, a 21-year-old who arrived in Europe from Tunisia in September. He remains in serious condition in hospital after police shot him.

Charlie Hebdo republished the cartoons to mark the start of the trial of suspected accomplices in the 2015 massacre of its staff by Islamist gunmen. The trial was Sunday delayed for at least a week after three defendants tested positive for coronavirus.