The backlash against President Emmanuel Macron's comments on Islam intensified Sunday, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan again urging him to have "mental checks" and protests in Muslim-majority nations.

Erdogan said that the French president had&nbsp;"lost his way",&nbsp;in his second sharp criticism of the French leader in two days over the treatment of Muslims.

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As a result of the&nbsp;rebuke, France&nbsp;recalled its&nbsp;ambassador from Ankara and&nbsp;said the move was aimed at fanning hate at home and abroad.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/pakistans-imran-khan-accuses-french-president-emmanuel-macron-of-attacking-islam-337836" hreflang="en">Pakistan's Imran Khan accuses French President Macron of 'attacking Islam'</a>

Earlier,&nbsp;Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has accused Macron&nbsp;of "attacking Islam" after the French leader defended the publication of the controversial&nbsp;cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed.

The French foreign ministry meanwhile called on authorities in affected countries to ensure the security of French citizens.

French authorities denounced Turkish&nbsp;propaganda and&nbsp;described some social media calls for protests as "heinous", lamenting manipulations "by a radical minority" and dubbing nascent boycotts of French goods "groundless".

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/french-police-raid-islamist-groups-after-teachers-beheading-336438">French police raid Islamist groups after teacher's beheading</a>

Speaking after teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded for showing caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed to pupils in a lesson on free speech earlier this month, Macron vowed France would "not give up cartoons" and said Paty "was killed because Islamists want our future".

But Erdogan on Saturday urged Macron to have "mental checks" for treating "millions of members from different faith groups this way",&nbsp;comments which prompted Paris to recall its envoy to Ankara.

The Turkish leader doubled down on Sunday, again contending that Macron "really needs to have checks" and this time also accusing him of being "obsessed with Erdogan day and night".&nbsp;

Macron later took to Twitter to say, "We will not give in, ever," insisting that his country respects "all differences in a spirit of peace."

"We do not accept hate speech and... will always be on the side of human dignity and universal values," he added.

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We will not give in, ever. 
We respect all differences in a spirit of peace. We do not accept hate speech and defend reasonable debate. We will always be on the side of human dignity and universal values.
— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) <a href="https://twitter.com/EmmanuelMacron/status/1320419059016617985?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 25, 2020</a></blockquote>
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Relations between Macron and Erdogan have become increasingly strained over geopolitical issues ranging from a Greek-Turkish maritime dispute to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan.&nbsp;

The European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, called the comments Erdogan made on Saturday "unacceptable" and urged Turkey "to cease this dangerous spiral of confrontation."&nbsp;

Anger at Macron has spilled over into the streets in several Muslim-majority countries.&nbsp;

Boycotts of French goods were underway in some nations, including by supermarkets in Qatar and Kuwait, with calls to spurn French products in several other states.

The backlash against President Emmanuel Macron's comments on Islam intensified Sunday, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan again urging him to have "mental checks" and protests in Muslim-majority nations.

The backlash against President Emmanuel Macron's comments on Islam intensified Sunday, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan again urging him to have "mental checks" and protests in Muslim-majority nations. Erdogan said that the French president had "lost his way", in his second sharp criticism of the French leader in two days over the treatment of Muslims. As a result of the rebuke, France recalled its ambassador from Ankara and said the move was aimed at fanning hate at home and abroad. Also read: Pakistan's Imran Khan accuses French President Macron of 'attacking Islam' Earlier, Pakistan's Prime Minister Imran Khan has accused Macron of "attacking Islam" after the French leader defended the publication of the controversial cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed. The French foreign ministry meanwhile called on authorities in affected countries to ensure the security of French citizens. French authorities denounced Turkish propaganda and described some social media calls for protests as "heinous", lamenting manipulations "by a radical minority" and dubbing nascent boycotts of French goods "groundless". Also read: French police raid Islamist groups after teacher's beheading Speaking after teacher Samuel Paty was beheaded for showing caricatures of the Prophet Mohammed to pupils in a lesson on free speech earlier this month, Macron vowed France would "not give up cartoons" and said Paty "was killed because Islamists want our future". But Erdogan on Saturday urged Macron to have "mental checks" for treating "millions of members from different faith groups this way", comments which prompted Paris to recall its envoy to Ankara. The Turkish leader doubled down on Sunday, again contending that Macron "really needs to have checks" and this time also accusing him of being "obsessed with Erdogan day and night". Macron later took to Twitter to say, "We will not give in, ever," insisting that his country respects "all differences in a spirit of peace." "We do not accept hate speech and... will always be on the side of human dignity and universal values," he added. We will not give in, ever. We respect all differences in a spirit of peace. We do not accept hate speech and defend reasonable debate. We will always be on the side of human dignity and universal values. — Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) October 25, 2020 × Relations between Macron and Erdogan have become increasingly strained over geopolitical issues ranging from a Greek-Turkish maritime dispute to the conflict between Armenia and Azerbaijan. The European Union's top diplomat, Josep Borrell, called the comments Erdogan made on Saturday "unacceptable" and urged Turkey "to cease this dangerous spiral of confrontation." Anger at Macron has spilled over into the streets in several Muslim-majority countries. Boycotts of French goods were underway in some nations, including by supermarkets in Qatar and Kuwait, with calls to spurn French products in several other states.

After Imran Khan, Recep Erdogan doubles down in backlash against Macron's Islam comments

A top Bangladeshi Sufi folk singer was arrested under a controversial internet law that critics say is used to stifle free speech after alleged anti-Islam comments triggered protests, police said Sunday.

Shariat Sarker, 40, was detained in the central town of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/heres-ali-fazals-first-look-from-kenneth-branaghs-death-on-the-nile-265972/amp">Mirzapur</a> on Saturday, local police chief Saidur Rahman told reporters.

A cleric filed a case against Sarker over comments made at a show in December, and he was arrested under the Digital Security Act for "hurting the religious sentiment of Muslims," Rahman said.&nbsp;

Film of the show was uploaded to YouTube and more than 1,000 Muslim activists and clerics staged a rally to demand the singer's arrest.

Sarker could face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty at trial.

Journalists and rights activists say the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions/protests-in-the-times-of-internet-shutdowns-271396">Digital Security Act</a> passed in 2018 is a serious threat to freedom of expression in the nation of 168 million people.

Under the Act, anyone can face a life jail term for "propaganda" against the nation and up to 10 years for digital content that "hurts religious sentiments" or "creates unrest".

Odhikar, a rights group, reported at least 29 arrests last year under the law.

Sarker is well known among the tens of millions of Sufi followers in rural <a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/bangladesh-foreign-ministry-rebuffs-misleading-reports-regarding-cancellation-of-ministers-participation-in-raisina-dialogue-273719">Bangladesh</a>. Music expert Saymon Zakaria said folk singers regularly take liberties when interpreting Islamic legends in a way that may not reflect the official version.

"There should not be literal interpretations of what is said during a performance. Folk singers must have freedom of expression," Zakaria said.

Despite holding a prominent place in Bangladesh's history, more than a dozen Sufi leaders and followers have been killed in recent years by extremist Islamist groups who consider them heretics.

A top Bangladeshi Sufi folk singer was arrested under a controversial internet law that critics say is used to stifle free speech after alleged anti-Islam comments triggered protests, police said Sunday.

A top Bangladeshi Sufi folk singer was arrested under a controversial internet law that critics say is used to stifle free speech after alleged anti-Islam comments triggered protests, police said Sunday. Shariat Sarker, 40, was detained in the central town of Mirzapur on Saturday, local police chief Saidur Rahman told reporters. A cleric filed a case against Sarker over comments made at a show in December, and he was arrested under the Digital Security Act for "hurting the religious sentiment of Muslims," Rahman said. Film of the show was uploaded to YouTube and more than 1,000 Muslim activists and clerics staged a rally to demand the singer's arrest. Sarker could face up to 10 years in prison if found guilty at trial. Journalists and rights activists say the Digital Security Act passed in 2018 is a serious threat to freedom of expression in the nation of 168 million people. Under the Act, anyone can face a life jail term for "propaganda" against the nation and up to 10 years for digital content that "hurts religious sentiments" or "creates unrest". Odhikar, a rights group, reported at least 29 arrests last year under the law. Sarker is well known among the tens of millions of Sufi followers in rural Bangladesh. Music expert Saymon Zakaria said folk singers regularly take liberties when interpreting Islamic legends in a way that may not reflect the official version. "There should not be literal interpretations of what is said during a performance. Folk singers must have freedom of expression," Zakaria said. Despite holding a prominent place in Bangladesh's history, more than a dozen Sufi leaders and followers have been killed in recent years by extremist Islamist groups who consider them heretics.

Bangladesh: Police arrests Sufi singer for 'hurting the sentiment of Muslims'

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After Imran Khan, Recep Erdogan doubles down in backlash against Macron's Islam comments

Bangladesh: Police arrests Sufi singer for 'hurting the sentiment of Muslims'