Pakistan, France relations still ‘poisoned’ over Prophet Muhammad caricature: Report

Many of the protests in Pakistan were organised by far-right party Tehreek-i-Labbaik Pakistan (TLP). It demanded the expulsion of the French ambassador, severing ties with France and boycott of French products, reports ANI.

According to a source in Elysees, the move by Pakistan government to take the matter to Parliament is “very badly perceived”, reports ANI.

“There were insulting remarks against the president (Macron) and it was taken in a personal capacity. And now the Pakistani government is considering putting the question of the ambassador’s expulsion to parliamentarians. It is very badly perceived,” Le Figaro quoted one source as saying as reported by ANI.

French National Assembly on Tuesday approved a law to fight Islamist extremism and separatism, an attempt believed to be taken to tackle the root causes of jihadist violence.

France has witnessed several Islamist terror attacks since 2015.

The text would significantly expand the government's powers to close religious organisations and places of worship if they are found to air "theories or ideas" that "provoke hate or violence", reports France 24.

The legislation offers protection to moderate community leaders who are in danger of being toppled by an extremist "putsch". It will also require all associations to commit in writing to uphold "republican values" – the liberal, Enlightenment values France holds dear – if they want to receive state subsidies, reports the news portal.

In order to crack down on religious funding from countries such as Turkey, Qatar or Saudi Arabia, the law will require associations to declare donations over €10,000 euros and have their accounts certified, reports France 24.

During the polling, the country's President Emmanuel Macron's centrist party rallied around the law, with 347 MPs voting in favour, 151 against and 65 abstaining.

Once a poster boy of the all-embracing liberal West, who in elections had defeated the far-right, French President Emmanuel Macron is now suddenly an enemy of the Islamic world.

Leaders of several Muslim countries have come down heavily on the French President for his efforts to keep his country free from Islamist terror.

"Our challenge is to fight against those who go off the rails in the name of religion … while protecting those who believe in Islam and are full citizens of the republic," Macron had said on Oct 2 last year, hinting at the new law.