Khaldon Azhari

TOKYO: The Japanese Minister for Foreign Affairs Toshimitsu Motegi said that Japan empathizes with Muslims regarding caricatures of prophet Muhammad and called for mutual understanding and de-escalation of the situation in France as well as elsewhere.

“First of all, violence and vandalism cannot be justified for any reason,” Motegi said in response to a question from Arab News Japan. “From that point of view, I firmly condemn the teacher murder case that occurred in the suburbs of Paris and the terrorist attack in Nice,” he added.

It is important to improve mutual understanding through peaceful dialogue and respect for one another based on diverse values, cultures and beliefs, Motegi said.

France has been facing heightened tensions regarding Islam in recent weeks following multiple religious attacks. Three were killed by a Tunisian man at a Catholic church in Nice last week, and earlier in October a teacher was killed by a Chechen teenager for showing cartoons of the Prophet Mohammad to his class.

The Japanese minister said that Japan urges all parties to ease tensions and avoid further deterioration of the situation. He expressed condolences to the victims and their families, while adding that Japan understood the strong emotions exhibited among Muslims.