The French federation announced on Friday that it will&nbsp;skip the European gymnastics championships scheduled to be held in December in Turkey due to&nbsp;"current geopolitical tensions" and the coronavirus pandemic.

French gymnastics federation president James Blateau said&nbsp;"Insofar as we are unable to fully guarantee the safety of the French team, it seemed to us more responsible to pull out" of the December 9-20 Euros in the southern Turkish city of Mersin.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/france-disbands-turkish-ultra-nationalist-group-grey-wolves-for-inciting-hatred-340546">France disbands Turkish ultra-nationalist group Grey Wolves for inciting 'hatred'</a>

"Current diplomatic tensions mean that our team's safety cannot be guaranteed,'' said&nbsp;France head coach Kevin Rabaud.

"In these conditions, it is unthinkable to take the least risk as regards a team travelling, albeit for a major competition for which we were perfectly ready."

Also read|&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/war-of-words-erdogan-lashes-out-at-incapable-macron-328242">War of words: Erdogan lashes out at 'incapable' Macron</a>

Turkey and France have been at loggerheads on French President Emmanuel Macron's vow to uphold secular values, including the right to mock Islam and other religions, as part of a battle against extremism.

Earlier, they also had&nbsp;conflicts in Syria and Libya as well as a scramble for natural gas in the Mediterranean.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recently called for a boycott of French products, accusing Macron of islamophobia and advising the French leader to get "mental checks".

The championships in Turkey have already been hit by the withdrawals of several teams, notably Russia, Switzerland, Britain, Germany, Netherlands, and Spain, because of the coronavirus outbreak.

The French federation announced on Friday that it will skip the European gymnastics championships scheduled to be held in December in Turkey due to "current geopolitical tensions" and the coronavirus pandemic.

The French federation announced on Friday that it will skip the European gymnastics championships scheduled to be held in December in Turkey due to "current geopolitical tensions" and the coronavirus pandemic. French gymnastics federation president James Blateau said "Insofar as we are unable to fully guarantee the safety of the French team, it seemed to us more responsible to pull out" of the December 9-20 Euros in the southern Turkish city of Mersin. Also read: France disbands Turkish ultra-nationalist group Grey Wolves for inciting 'hatred' "Current diplomatic tensions mean that our team's safety cannot be guaranteed,'' said France head coach Kevin Rabaud. "In these conditions, it is unthinkable to take the least risk as regards a team travelling, albeit for a major competition for which we were perfectly ready." Also read| War of words: Erdogan lashes out at 'incapable' Macron Turkey and France have been at loggerheads on French President Emmanuel Macron's vow to uphold secular values, including the right to mock Islam and other religions, as part of a battle against extremism. Earlier, they also had conflicts in Syria and Libya as well as a scramble for natural gas in the Mediterranean. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has recently called for a boycott of French products, accusing Macron of islamophobia and advising the French leader to get "mental checks". The championships in Turkey have already been hit by the withdrawals of several teams, notably Russia, Switzerland, Britain, Germany, Netherlands, and Spain, because of the coronavirus outbreak.

France to skip European gymnastics championships in Turkey due 'geopolitical tensions'

France on Wednesday announced the&nbsp;disbandment of&nbsp;Turkish ultra-nationalist group Grey Wolves for inciting ''hatred''.

The cabinet decision came after a memorial centre to mass killings of Armenians during World War I was defaced at the weekend with graffiti including the name of the&nbsp;Grey&nbsp;Wolves.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/france-president-emmanuel-macron-faces-wrath-of-muslim-world-watch-this-report-339984/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said in a tweet announcing the group's dissolution that it "incites discrimination and hatred and is implicated in violent actions".

The&nbsp;Grey&nbsp;Wolves&nbsp;are seen as a wing of a party allied to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been feuding with&nbsp;French President Emmanuel Macron on a number of geopolitical flashpoints and recently also France's fight against radical Islam.

"We stress the need to protect the freedom of assembly and expression of Turks in France... and will respond in the firmest way possible to this decision," the Turkish foreign minister said in a statement.

The weekend's incident and&nbsp;Grey&nbsp;Wolves&nbsp;ban come against a background of sharp tension in France between its Armenian and Turkish communities over the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/erdogan-calls-for-boycott-of-french-goods-over-macrons-stance-against-radical-islam-338069">Erdogan calls for boycott of French goods over Macron's stance against radical Islam</a>

Turkey has strongly backed its ally Azerbaijan in the conflict over the region that is part of Azerbaijan but has been controlled by Armenian separatists since a 1990s war as the Soviet Union broke up.

Four people were wounded outside Lyon last week in clashes between suspected Turkish nationalists and Armenians protesting against Azerbaijan's military offensive.

Armenians have long campaigned for the mass killings of their ancestors in the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to be recognised as genocide.

In Turkey, the&nbsp;Grey&nbsp;Wolves&nbsp;are closely linked to the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) of Devlet Bahceli which is allied with Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Analysts see the MHP as critical to Erdogan's continued domination of Turkey, with the support of Bahceli a key factor behind his victory in 2018's presidential election.

The&nbsp;Grey&nbsp;Wolves&nbsp;are regarded as the militant wing of the MHP and caused havoc on the streets in Turkey during the 1970s and 1980s when its members frequently clashed with leftist activists.

&nbsp;

France on Wednesday announced the disbandment of Turkish ultra-nationalist group Grey Wolves for inciting ''hatred''. The cabinet decision came after a memorial centre to mass killings of Armenians during World War I was defaced at the weekend with graffiti including the name of the Grey Wolves.

France on Wednesday announced the disbandment of Turkish ultra-nationalist group Grey Wolves for inciting ''hatred''. The cabinet decision came after a memorial centre to mass killings of Armenians during World War I was defaced at the weekend with graffiti including the name of the Grey Wolves. Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin said in a tweet announcing the group's dissolution that it "incites discrimination and hatred and is implicated in violent actions". The Grey Wolves are seen as a wing of a party allied to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, who has been feuding with French President Emmanuel Macron on a number of geopolitical flashpoints and recently also France's fight against radical Islam. "We stress the need to protect the freedom of assembly and expression of Turks in France... and will respond in the firmest way possible to this decision," the Turkish foreign minister said in a statement. The weekend's incident and Grey Wolves ban come against a background of sharp tension in France between its Armenian and Turkish communities over the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Also read: Erdogan calls for boycott of French goods over Macron's stance against radical Islam Turkey has strongly backed its ally Azerbaijan in the conflict over the region that is part of Azerbaijan but has been controlled by Armenian separatists since a 1990s war as the Soviet Union broke up. Four people were wounded outside Lyon last week in clashes between suspected Turkish nationalists and Armenians protesting against Azerbaijan's military offensive. Armenians have long campaigned for the mass killings of their ancestors in the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to be recognised as genocide. In Turkey, the Grey Wolves are closely linked to the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) of Devlet Bahceli which is allied with Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP). Analysts see the MHP as critical to Erdogan's continued domination of Turkey, with the support of Bahceli a key factor behind his victory in 2018's presidential election. The Grey Wolves are regarded as the militant wing of the MHP and caused havoc on the streets in Turkey during the 1970s and 1980s when its members frequently clashed with leftist activists.

France disbands Turkish ultra-nationalist group Grey Wolves for inciting 'hatred'

France announced on Monday that it is mulling to ban&nbsp;a Turkish ultra-nationalist group known as the Grey Wolves.

The move is set to further strain&nbsp;already tense relations with Ankara as&nbsp;the Grey Wolves is&nbsp;seen as a wing of a party allied to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/france-president-emmanuel-macron-faces-wrath-of-muslim-world-watch-this-report-339984/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

Turkish members of the&nbsp;Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) condemned it.

The dissolution was announced after a memorial centre to mass killings of Armenians during World War I was defaced with graffiti including the name of the Grey Wolves at the weekend.

Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/erdogan-calls-for-boycott-of-french-goods-over-macrons-stance-against-radical-islam-338069">Erdogan calls for boycott of French goods over Macron's stance against radical Islam</a>

It will be put to the French cabinet on Wednesday, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told a parliamentary committee.

"To put it mildly, we are talking about a particularly aggressive group," Darmanin said.&nbsp;

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"It deserves to be dissolved," he added, saying the move meant that actions or meetings by the group can be punished by fines or imprisonment.&nbsp;

His announcement came after a memorial centre outside Lyon to the mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, regarded as genocide by Armenia, was defaced with pro-Turkish slogans including "Grey Wolves" and "RTE" in reference to Erdogan.

The incident in the town of Decines-Charpieu came against a background of sharp tension in France between its Armenian and Turkish communities over the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

Turkey has strongly backed its ally Azerbaijan in the conflict over the region that is part of Azerbaijan but has been controlled by Armenian separatists since a 1990s war as the Soviet Union broke up.

Four people were wounded outside Lyon last Wednesday in clashes between suspected Turkish nationalists and Armenians protesting against Azerbaijan's military offensive.

Armenians have long campaigned for the mass killings of their ancestors in the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to be recognised as genocide.

'No place in our country'&nbsp;

The move by Darmanin risks further stoking tensions with Ankara.&nbsp;

In Turkey, the Grey Wolves are closely linked to the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) of Devlet Bahceli which has a political alliance with Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP).

Analysts see the MHP as critical to Erdogan's continued domination of Turkey, with the support of Bahceli a key factor behind his victory in 2018's presidential election.

The Grey Wolves are regarded as the militant wing of the MHP and caused havoc on the streets in Turkey during the 1970s and 1980s when its members frequently clashed with leftist activists.

Those affiliated to the Grey Wolves, known as Bozkurtlar in Turkish, and MHP traditionally show their loyalty with a hand gesture in which the little and index fingers are raised.

Mehmet Ali Agca, the Turkish nationalist who attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II in 1981, has also been linked to the movement.

"It is excellent news," said French MP Yael Braun-Pivet who chairs the laws committee where Darmanin made the announcement. "These violent groups have no place in our country," she wrote on Twitter.

There have been weeks of tensions between France and Turkey, which reached a peak last month after the beheading of a French schoolteacher who showed his pupils cartoons mocking Islam's Prophet Mohammed.

In the wake of the killing, President Emmanuel Macron delivered a passionate defence of free speech, including the right to mock religion, prompting Erdogan to question his mental health.

France responded by recalling its ambassador to Ankara for consultations.

In an interview with Al-Jazeera on Saturday, Macron accused Turkey of adopting a "bellicose" stance towards its NATO allies, saying tensions could ease if Erdogan showed respect and did not tell lies.

Following a spate of Islamist attacks in recent weeks, France has also been taking steps to ban radical Islamist groups and to cut off foreign funds to them.

In Compiegne, a town in northern France, two wild boar heads were found Monday on the building site of new offices for a French-Turkish cultural exchange association, which said it had filed charges for trespassing and "an Islamophobic act".

France announced on Monday that it is mulling to ban a Turkish ultra-nationalist group known as the Grey Wolves. The move is set to further strain already tense relations with Ankara as the Grey Wolves is seen as a wing of a party allied to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

France announced on Monday that it is mulling to ban a Turkish ultra-nationalist group known as the Grey Wolves. The move is set to further strain already tense relations with Ankara as the Grey Wolves is seen as a wing of a party allied to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Turkish members of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) condemned it. The dissolution was announced after a memorial centre to mass killings of Armenians during World War I was defaced with graffiti including the name of the Grey Wolves at the weekend. Also read: Erdogan calls for boycott of French goods over Macron's stance against radical Islam It will be put to the French cabinet on Wednesday, Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin told a parliamentary committee. "To put it mildly, we are talking about a particularly aggressive group," Darmanin said. "It deserves to be dissolved," he added, saying the move meant that actions or meetings by the group can be punished by fines or imprisonment. His announcement came after a memorial centre outside Lyon to the mass killings of Armenians in the Ottoman Empire, regarded as genocide by Armenia, was defaced with pro-Turkish slogans including "Grey Wolves" and "RTE" in reference to Erdogan. The incident in the town of Decines-Charpieu came against a background of sharp tension in France between its Armenian and Turkish communities over the conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. Turkey has strongly backed its ally Azerbaijan in the conflict over the region that is part of Azerbaijan but has been controlled by Armenian separatists since a 1990s war as the Soviet Union broke up. Four people were wounded outside Lyon last Wednesday in clashes between suspected Turkish nationalists and Armenians protesting against Azerbaijan's military offensive. Armenians have long campaigned for the mass killings of their ancestors in the Ottoman Empire from 1915 to be recognised as genocide. 'No place in our country' The move by Darmanin risks further stoking tensions with Ankara. In Turkey, the Grey Wolves are closely linked to the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) of Devlet Bahceli which has a political alliance with Erdogan's Justice and Development Party (AKP). Analysts see the MHP as critical to Erdogan's continued domination of Turkey, with the support of Bahceli a key factor behind his victory in 2018's presidential election. The Grey Wolves are regarded as the militant wing of the MHP and caused havoc on the streets in Turkey during the 1970s and 1980s when its members frequently clashed with leftist activists. Those affiliated to the Grey Wolves, known as Bozkurtlar in Turkish, and MHP traditionally show their loyalty with a hand gesture in which the little and index fingers are raised. Mehmet Ali Agca, the Turkish nationalist who attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II in 1981, has also been linked to the movement. "It is excellent news," said French MP Yael Braun-Pivet who chairs the laws committee where Darmanin made the announcement. "These violent groups have no place in our country," she wrote on Twitter. There have been weeks of tensions between France and Turkey, which reached a peak last month after the beheading of a French schoolteacher who showed his pupils cartoons mocking Islam's Prophet Mohammed. In the wake of the killing, President Emmanuel Macron delivered a passionate defence of free speech, including the right to mock religion, prompting Erdogan to question his mental health. France responded by recalling its ambassador to Ankara for consultations. In an interview with Al-Jazeera on Saturday, Macron accused Turkey of adopting a "bellicose" stance towards its NATO allies, saying tensions could ease if Erdogan showed respect and did not tell lies. Following a spate of Islamist attacks in recent weeks, France has also been taking steps to ban radical Islamist groups and to cut off foreign funds to them. In Compiegne, a town in northern France, two wild boar heads were found Monday on the building site of new offices for a French-Turkish cultural exchange association, which said it had filed charges for trespassing and "an Islamophobic act".

France sparks Turkish fury with plans to ban ‘Grey Wolves’ nationalist group