Thousands of Bangladeshi protesters stage rally in Dhaka to call for boycott of French goods

Tens of thousands of protesters marched through the Bangladesh capital on Tuesday by calling for a boycott of French products and burning an effigy of President Emmanuel Macron after he defended insulting cartoons depicting the Prophet Mohammed. Police estimated that more than 40,000 people took part in the march organised by Islami Andolon Bangladesh (IAB). Hundreds of officers used a barbed-wire barricade to stop the protesters who broke up without violence. The French leader has been the target of protests in several countries over his anti-Islamic comments, made after a teacher was decapitated for showing the insulting cartoons of Prophet Mohammed to his pupils. The rally was organised by Islami Andolon Bangladesh (IAB), one of the country's largest Islamist parties, and started at Bangladesh's biggest mosque. Protesters chanted 'Boycott French products' and called for Macron to be punished. 'Macron is one of the few leaders who worship Satan,' Ataur Rahman, a senior Islami Andolon figure told the rally at the Baitul Mukarram national mosque. Rahman called on the Bangladesh government to 'kick out' the French ambassador while another leader, Hasan Jamal, said activists would 'tear down every brick of that building' if the envoy was not ordered out. 'France is the enemy of Muslims. Those who represent them are also our enemies,' said Nesar Uddin, a young leader of the group. Even after the rally was halted, demonstrators marched down other streets chanting 'Boycott France' and 'Macron will pay a high price'. Last Wednesday, Macron said he will not prevent the publishing of the cartoons under the pretext of freedom of speech sparking outrage among the Muslim world. French Muslims have accused him of trying to repress their religion and legitimizing Islamophobia. Several Arab countries as well as Turkey and Pakistan have also condemned Macron's attitude toward Muslims and Islam, with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan saying the French leader needs a 'mental health check.'