(Karachi) In reaction to French President Emmanuel Macron's comments against Islam and Muslims, Prime Minister Imran Khan has said that the hallmark of a leader is he unites human beings, like Mandela did rather than divide them.

In a series of tweets on Sunday, Imran said: "This is a time when Pres Macron could have put healing touch & denied space to extremists rather than creating further polarisation & marginalisation that inevitably leads to radicalisation through encouraging the display of blasphemous cartoons targeting Islam & our Prophet PBUH."

He pointed out, "By attacking Islam, clearly without having any understanding of it, President Macron has attacked & hurt the sentiments of millions of Muslims in Europe & across the world."

The PM stated that the last thing the world wants or needs is further polarisation. "Public statements based on ignorance will create more hate, Islamophobia & space for extremists."

The prime minister's statement comes after French President Emmanuel Macron commented against Islam and Muslims. Macron accused Muslims of separatism and vowed not to give up cartoons depicting Prophet Muhammed (PBUH).

Macron made the comments in response to the beheading of a teacher, Samuel Paty, a 47-year-old teacher, who was attacked on his way home from the junior high school where he taught in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine, 40 kilometres northwest of Paris.

Soon after his comments, protests erupted globally calling to boycott French goods.