Quebec Prime Minister François Legault criticized Monday, November 2, Justin Trudeau's position on the
"limits"
of freedom of expression, the subject of heated debate in Parliament, and supported that of Emmanuel Macron after the controversy over Muhammad cartoons.
“I really totally disagree with Mr. Trudeau.
We must protect freedom of expression, ”
François Legault said during a press briefing.
"I agree with Emmanuel Macron,"
he added.
“We cannot accuse people who have made caricatures,”
explained François Legault.
"We cannot justify violence in this way
.
"
To read also: Caricatures: "Freedom of expression is not without limits", assures Justin Trudeau
The Canadian Prime Minister, questioned Friday on the freedom to criticize the Prophet Muhammad as did
Charlie Hebdo
, had estimated that the freedom of expression was
"not without limit"
, and should not
"injure in an arbitrary way and unnecessary ”
certain groups or communities.
While condemning the recent terrorist attacks in France, Justin Trudeau thus distanced himself from the position of the French president, who firmly defended the right to caricature in the name of freedom of expression.
These statements, after the beheading on October 16 by an Islamist of a French teacher, Samuel Paty, who had shown his students caricatures of the prophet of Islam, have led to anti-French protests in several Muslim countries in recent days.
The positions taken by Justin Trudeau, champion of multiculturalism and respect for minorities, were also denounced by several opposition members during a debate on freedom of expression in the House of Commons.
"The political formation that I represent is unequivocally dissociated
(...)
from the serious lack of courage expressed by the Prime Minister of Canada as to the extent of freedom of expression,"
said the leader of the Bloc Québécois (Indépendantistes ), Yves-François Blanchet.
Read also: Clément Beaune: "The fight against terrorism is waged in the name of freedom of expression"
The conservative opposition followed suit, believing that a prime minister should
“defend freedom of expression”
and not
“put conditions on it”
.
In the absence of the head of government in the Commons, his Minister of Foreign Affairs François-Philippe Champagne reaffirmed that Canada would continue to
"vigorously defend freedom of expression in the world"
, calling for
"to avoid politicizing this issue"
.
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