RIYADH: The head of the Muslim World League has responded to plans in France for tougher laws to tackle 鈥淚slamist separatism.鈥�

In a speech earlier this month, President Emmanuel Macron announced new laws that he said would tackle 鈥渁 counter-society.鈥� He said they would defend France's secular values against Islamist radicalism.

Macron also said Islam is a religion that is in crisis all over the world.

Asked about Macron鈥檚 comments, Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdul Karim Al-Issa, the MWL secretary-general, said extremists had harmed Islam鈥檚 reputation. 

鈥淭here are people who are falsely considered Muslims,鈥� Al-Issa said in an interview on MBC television. 鈥淭hese have harmed Islam鈥檚 reputation with their radicalism and extremism 鈥� and sometimes, their violence, including their terrorism.

鈥淭hese do not represent Islam at all, and if we defend them 鈥� whether directly or indirectly, (that would mean) we are exactly like them.鈥�

When asked about Macron鈥檚 references to separatism and isolationism, Al-Issa said extremists and terrorists 鈥渨ere the first to isolate themselves from Islamic society.鈥�

He said the 2019 Makkah Declaration, which was signed by thousands of clerics and Islamic scholars from around the world, emphasized the need to respect the constitutions, laws, and cultures of countries.

The declaration called for anti-extremism, religious and cultural diversity, and legislation against hate and violence.

Al-Issa has previously said it is his 鈥渕ission鈥� to wipe out extremist ideology and he has spearheaded efforts to tackle radicalisation.

In his speech, Macron said France would seek to 鈥渓iberate鈥� Islam in France from foreign influences.

He previously hit out at 鈥減olitical Islam鈥� in February and singled out the Muslim Brotherhood.