Mahathir says remarks on French attacks taken out of context

13 Sept 06:23 Key points summarised by AI

Former Malaysian leader Mahathir Mohamad defended his controversial remarks on French attacks, claiming his statements were "taken out of context" and criticizing social media platforms for removing his posts.
Mahathir's original blog post stated "Muslims have a right to be angry and kill millions of French people," but he clarified it was immediately followed by a sentence noting Muslims generally do not apply an "eye for an eye" law.
He accused Twitter and Facebook of hypocrisy, arguing they defended offensive caricatures in the name of free speech while censoring his full explanation, thereby stirring hatred against Muslims.
The comments drew widespread international condemnation, with U.S. and Australian envoys emphasizing that freedom of expression does not justify calls for violence.
These remarks coincided with calls for boycotts of French products and a church attack in Nice, following French President Macron's stance on Islam and radicalism.

Macron condemns those who 'sought to bring down the Republic' after rioting mars nationwide protests

19 Oct 12:56 Key points summarised by AI

President Macron condemned widespread rioting and looting during nationwide protests, blaming far-left activists and criminals for the "unrestrained violence" and vowing accountability for those who "sought to bring down the Republic."
Over 2,400 arrests were made as protests against rising living costs and poor school conditions escalated, causing extensive damage to public buildings and businesses in cities like Paris, Limoges (where City Hall burned), Marseille, and Lyon.
The unrest, which organizers hoped would revive the "yellow vest" movement, saw political leaders trade blame, with Macron instructing prefects to protect public buildings and potentially ban future protests to prevent further disorder.