Paris announced on Wednesday the dissolution of the national Turkish "Gray Wolves" association, two days after the French government imposed a ban on it, while Ankara pledged a "firm" response to Paris' move.

And French Interior Minister Gerald Darmanan said in a tweet Wednesday that the cabinet had taken a decision to ban the association.

Darmannan claimed that the association encouraged hatred and discrimination and participated in acts of violence.

These developments came in the context of strong diplomatic tensions between France and Turkey over the treatment of Muslims in France.

The finger of blame was pointed at this movement after the recent clashes between the Turkish and Armenian communities in Decin-Charpieu near Lyon (east);

Tensions between the two communities have been exacerbated by the conflict in the Nagorno Karabakh region between Armenia and Azerbaijan, which is supported by Turkey.

Later, Turkey pledged a "firm response" to the French move, describing it as a "provocation."

"We stress the need to protect freedom of expression and assembly for Turks in France," the Turkish Foreign Ministry announced in a statement, adding, "Our response to this decision will be absolutely firm."

Demonstration against France and President Macron in Istanbul, Turkey (Reuters)

Tensions and claims

A week ago, security forces in Decin-Charpio intervened to prevent 250 members of the Turkish community from fighting a fight with the Armenians.

A few hours earlier, a fight between the two sides left 4 people injured, one of them in critical condition.

Also, the phrase "Gray Wolves" was written on a monument honoring the victims of the genocide and the National Center for Armenian Memory near Lyon a few days ago.

And demands were issued by some politicians and official circles to deport the Turks participating in those events, while those parties remained silent about the violence of the Armenian protesters.

The ban also comes as France cracks down on "hardline Islamists" after the killing of French teacher Samuel Patty last month.

And a young man of Chechen origin (18 years) Bati was slaughtered on October 16, after presenting cartoons insulting to the Prophet Muhammad, may God bless him and grant him peace, in the classroom during a lesson on freedom of expression.

In the wake of Patty's death,

France banned an Islamic group bearing the name of the late Sheikh Ahmed Yassin, founder of the Palestinian Islamic Resistance Movement (Hamas).