PanARMENIAN.Net - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday, October 24 slammed his French counterpart, Emmanuel Macron, over his policies toward Muslims, saying that he needed 'mental checks,' AFP reports

Macron and Erdogan are feuding about maritime rights in the eastern Mediterranean, Libya, Syria and -- most recently -- the escalating conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh.

'What can one say about a head of state who treats millions of members from different faith groups this way: first of all, have mental checks,' Erdogan said in a televised address in the central Anatolian city of Kayseri.

Macron's proposal to defend his country's secular values against radical Islam has angered the Turkish government.

Macron this month described Islam as a religion 'in crisis' worldwide and said the government would present a bill in December to strengthen a 1905 law that officially separated church and state in France.

He announced stricter oversight of schooling and better control over foreign funding of mosques.

Turkey is a majority Muslim but secular country which is a part of NATO but not the EU, where its membership bid has stalled for decades over a range of disputes.

'What's the problem of the individual called Macron with Islam and with the Muslims?' Erdogan asked. 'Macron needs mental treatment.'

Erdogan also predicted Macron would not do well in the French presidential election in 2022.

'You are constantly picking on Erdogan. This will not earn you anything,' said the Turkish leader. 'There will be elections (in France) ... We will see your fate. I don't think he has a long way to go. Why? He has not achieved anything for France and he should do for himself.'