Russian President, Vladimir Putin has stated that militant Islam poses an existential threat to the West and that multiculturalism has failed. He also said that rights such as freedom of speech had to be carefully balanced with not wishing to offend religious groups.
"Where is the boundary between one freedom and another freedom? It is well known that where one man's freedom begins, another's must end. [Those that] act thoughtlessly, insulting the rights and feelings of religious people, should always remember there will be an inevitable backlash. But, on the other hand, this shouldn't be an aggressive one."
"Multiculturalism has failed."
His statements came after he was asked about the recent terrorist attacks in France. This included the beheading of a French history teacher by an 18-year-old Islamist extremist after the teacher showed a picture of the prophet Mohammed during a class debate on freedom of speech. It was later revealed that the killer had fled Chechnya, in Russia, as a refugee when they were a child and had been granted asylum in France. Another attack saw two middle-aged individuals being killed by an Islamist outside of a church.
This led to French President Emmanuel Macron doubling down on his previous statements regarding the integration of Muslims into mainstream French society. He had previously said that many Muslims were living in parallel worlds and not adopting the secular ideals of the French Republic. It led to protests across the Islamic world and one former Malaysian leader saying that it was acceptable to kill as many French people as possible.
Putin earlier this month instructed the Russian Foreign Ministry to:
"Initiate discussions through international organizations on issues relating to those insulting the beliefs of religious people, and inciting inter-religious hatreds and conflict."
Many in the West will scoff at Putin's claims to appear interested in freedom of speech and the rights of minorities. Russia has passed several laws in recent years outlawing blasphemy in certain circumstances. The Russian female punk-band 'Pussy Riot' were famously jailed after their members danced in a church in protest against the Putin regime. The West has also consistently accused Putin of running rigged-elections, jailing opponents and repeatedly silencing dissent.
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