«Killing French people in an attempt to defend the Prophet is illegal in Islamic laws», Morocco’s former Prime Minister says

The knife attack that took place, Thursday, near a church in Nice, France, has pushed Moroccan politician and former head of government Abdelilah Benkirane out of his silence. In a Facebook live, Benkirane condemned any act of violence committed against the French in a false attempt to defend Prophet Mohammed. The Prophet «does not need people to defend him, God is in charge of this mission», he stressed.  

During his live, the Justice and Development Party politician addressed his message to all Muslims, including those living in France, indicating that «attempts carried out by young people to defend the Prophet or avenge him, as they think, are illegal according to the principles of Islam».

«Macron made a mistake»

Abdelillah Benkirane said that his words are his «conviction». «A line of thought that I have always followed. It is illegal to kill innocent people including those who mock the Prophet with these caricatures. We can respond to them through speech, dialogue, demonstrations if possible and even with a boycott if we wish (…) but it is strictly forbidden to engage in violent reprisals against civilians», he further explained.

The former head of government concluded his speech by inviting Muslims to follow the Prophet's example, while acknowledging that the French president «made a mistake» by supporting the re-publication of the «offensive» cartoons. Reproaches were also addressed to the media and the political movements in France. «But I will not debate with them at the moment», promising to return on the subject soon.

This live video allowed Benkirane to kill two birds with one stone: condemning the support of the French president for the re-publication of the controversial cartoons of Prophet Mohammed and positioning himself as a moderate Muslim leader, able to respond to the abuse carried by extremists Islamists.