Ankara (Web Desk): Turkey President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Tuesday reacted angrily the demand of a group of some 300 well-known French personalities who urged prominent Muslims to denounce anti-Jewish and anti-Christian references in the Quran, Arab media reported.
While addressing a ruling party meeting, Erdogan described the group that includes actor Gerard Depardieu, singer Charles Aznavour and former President Nicolas Sarkozy as "despicable", accusing them of attacking scriptures sacred to Muslims.
It is pertinent the group of some 300 well-known French personalities signed a manifesto which was published on 21 April.
The statement urged Muslims to denounce some references in their holy book so "no believer can refer to a holy text to commit a crime".
Erdogan suggested other holy books had controversial references, saying: "If they had read it, they would probably ask for the Bible to be banned but they have no such concern".
Both Turkey's and Egypt's top religious bodies have slammed the statement, saying it amounts to calling for 'redacting' the Quran.
The manifesto has also sparked anger from French Muslims, who have said their religion was being unfairly "put on trial".
The Turkish directorate of religious affairs said on Monday that the signatories "are the Western versions of Daesh", an Arabic acronym for the Islamic State group.
