The fire in Notre Dame is being treated as accidental, and terrorism was soon ruled out. However, Francken took to Twitter to draw a comparison with devastations that ISIS committed on old monasteries and Christian properties.
Proficiat, Theo, jij wint met deze tweet maar liefst twee bekers: die van 'Walgelijkste Politieke Recuperatie van 2019' én 'Meest Bij De Haren Getrokken Vergelijking van 2019'! Veel plezier ermee!
— Evelien Chiau (@_evelienc) April 15, 2019
Translation: "After the destruction of the oldest monasteries and shrines of Christianity by ISIS in Syria, we may lose the most beautiful and impressive Christian monument in Europe, What a pitch black day."
"Congratulations, Theo, with this tweet you will win no less than two cups: 'Most Disgusting Political Recuperation of 2019' and 'Most Gracelessly Compared 2019'! Have fun with it!"
He did not take the criticism well and went one step further.
Wie hier een of andere beschuldiging in wil zien die doet maar lekker hysterisch, wat er in Notre Dame gebeurt is verschrikkelijk en verdrietig. Een soortgelijk verdriet overviel me toen IS oa Palmira deed ontploffen. Jammer voor zo'n prachtig symbool van het Christendom.
— Theo Francken (@FranckenTheo) April 15, 2019
Translation: "Anyone who wants to see some kind of accusation in this is being hysterical, what is happening in Notre Dame is terrible and sad. A similar sadness struck me when ISIS exploded Palmyra, among other things. Too bad for such a beautiful symbol of Christianity."
Maïthé Chini
The Brussels Times