Macron confirmed, in a "private meeting" with Al-Jazeera, that his statements were distorted, and that he understood Muslims' feelings about the offensive cartoons of the Holy Prophet.
Macron added that the press in France is free and that the newspaper that published the photos is not government-owned.
"I understand and respect the feelings that this raises, and I do not agree with the aim of these caricatures, but I want you to understand my role, which is to calm things down as I do, and at the same time protect these rights," Macron said.
In response to Al Jazeera's question to the French president about his previous assertion that he will never give up the offensive cartoons during his memorial speech by teacher Samuel Patti, Macron said that there is a distortion of his words and that he never said so, adding that there are no cartoons directed against a particular religion.
Macron indicated that the reactions in the Islamic world were due to many lies and distortions of his statements, and because people understood that I am a supporter of these caricatures.
Macron added that there are those who distort Islam and kill and slaughter in its name, indicating that Muslims are their first victims.
He explained that "today there is violence practiced by some extremist groups and individuals in the name of Islam, and this is the scourge of Muslims in the world because Muslims are the first victims, and there are more than 80% of the victims of terrorism are Muslims, and this is a problem for all of us."
Macron said that there are those who commit acts against others only because they disagree with them in religion.
He explained that "there are people who commit acts against Muslims because they are Muslims, against Catholics because they are Catholics, against Protestants because they are Protestants, and against Jews because they are Jews."
The French president reaffirmed that "today in the world there are people in the world who distort Islam and in the name of this religion claim to defend it, kill, slaughter and make speeches justifying some kind of expulsion of human groups from the world."
The Islamic World and the Boycott
Regarding the campaign to boycott French products that was launched in Arab and Islamic countries, Macron said that "this is an inappropriate thing, and we condemn it," considering that the boycott campaign "was the work of some private groups because they did not understand and relied on lies about caricatures, and sometimes these campaigns were an act." Some other leaders, which is unacceptable, because you understand what is happening with regard to the caricatures, because France is a country with sovereignty and the law applies, and it has issued statements to calm the situation.
While the French President acknowledged in his interview with Al Jazeera that his country was fighting what he described as anti-Semitism and racism, he denied adopting a double standard policy.
Macron held what he described as political and religious leaders who do not condemn completely any form of violence against France, directly or indirectly, for the violence committed against France or the French at home or abroad.
Regarding the escalation in France's relations with Turkey, Macron said, "Turkey has imperial ambitions, and this is not a good thing for the stability of the region."
Macron sent what he described as a firm message against terrorism and against all violent extremists, and also a message of peace and unity to all.
The French president emphasized that one of the signs of respecting freedom in France is that "we treat Muslims as we treat all other religions."
Macron stressed that he is not fighting the millions of Muslims in France, as they are full citizens, but rather he is confronting the extremists who speak in the name of Islam while distorting it and justifying violence against France.
He added, "We do not have any problem with Islam. We are one of the first countries to translate the Qur’an and open a large mosque in its capital, but our battle is against terrorism and violent extremism, which is a battle against those who justify violence in the name of Islam."