Saudi Arabia joined a slew of Muslim nations, including Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Iran, and Pakistan, in condemning disparaging remarks made by India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) (BJP).
According to the Hindustan Times, BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and another party leader, Naveen Kumar Jindal, made derogatory remarks about the Prophet (PBUH), and after international condemnation, India’s ruling party was forced to distance itself from their statements, announcing disciplinary action against the pair.
On Sunday, Qatar, Kuwait, and Iran summoned India’s ambassador to express their displeasure, while Pakistan delivered a forceful demarche to India’s charge d’affaires on Monday.
Kuwait announced in a statement that it had sent over a “formal protest note expressing the State of Kuwait’s unequivocal rejection and condemnation of the disrespectful words made by one of the ruling party’s officials against the Holy Prophet (PBUH), Islam, and Muslims.”
Saudi Arabia also issued a statement criticising the remarks and emphasising the importance of religious tolerance.
President Dr. Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif both condemned the BJP leaders’ remarks.
Qatar has asked India to issue a public apology for allowing such “Islamophobic” ideas to be spoken without retaliation.
The president expressed regret for the statements, saying that they had hurt the feelings of Muslims all throughout the world. “India under [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi’s Hindutva philosophy is trampling religious freedoms of all its minorities and persecuting them without any impunity”.
Kuwait announced in a statement that it had sent over a “formal protest note expressing the State of Kuwait’s unequivocal rejection and condemnation of the disrespectful words made by one of the ruling party’s officials against the Holy Prophet (PBUH), Islam, and Muslims.”
Saudi Arabia also issued a statement criticising the remarks and emphasising the importance of religious tolerance.
President Dr. Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif both condemned the BJP leaders’ remarks.
The president expressed regret for the statements, saying that they had hurt the feelings of Muslims all throughout the world. “India, under [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi’s Hindutva doctrine, is trampling on all minorities’ religious freedoms and harassing them without repercussions.”
https://t.co/zAooXhj7wZ pic.twitter.com/GmPhyl4tVP
— Dr. Arif Alvi (@ArifAlvi) June 5, 2022
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz took to Twitter to say, “… I’ve stated it before: Modi’s India is trampling on religious freedoms and harassing Muslims. The rest of the world should take notice and punish India harshly.”
I condemn in strongest possible words hurtful comments of India's BJP leader about our beloved Prophet (PBUH). Have said it repeatedly India under Modi is trampling religious freedoms & persecuting Muslims. World should take note & severely reprimand India. Our love for the >
— Shehbaz Sharif (@CMShehbaz) June 5, 2022
He claimed that Muslims’ love for the Prophet (PBUH) was unconditional, and that they would willingly give their lives for the Holy figure.
Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry stated in a statement that it “reaffirms its permanent rejection of prejudice against Islamic religious symbols and refuses to bias all religious figures and symbols.”
According to the statement, the country also praised the BJP’s move to suspend Sharma.
#Statement | The Ministry of Foreign Affairs expresses its condemnation and denunciation of the statements made by the spokeswoman of the #Indian Bharatiya Janata Party (#BJP), insulting the Prophet Muhammad peace be upon him. pic.twitter.com/VLQwdXuPuq
— Foreign Ministry 🇸🇦 (@KSAmofaEN) June 5, 2022
According to a statement released by Qatar’s foreign ministry, the Indian envoy was summoned and handed an official note expressing Qatar’s disappointment and “total rejection and condemnation [of] the controversial remarks made by an official in India’s ruling party against Prophet Mohammed… Islam and Muslims.”
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs Summons the Indian Ambassador and Hands Him an Official Note on Qatar’s Total Rejection and Condemnation of the Remarks of an Official in the Ruling Party in India Against Prophet Mohammed#MOFAQatar pic.twitter.com/rp7kMnWXdu
— Ministry of Foreign Affairs – Qatar (@MofaQatar_EN) June 5, 2022
“We want a public apology and an instant denunciation of these remarks from the Government of India,” Qatar stated.
It stated that permitting such Islamophobic remarks to go unpunished posed a major threat to human rights protection and could lead to greater discrimination and marginalisation, resulting in a cycle of violence and hatred.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has condemned the remarks made by two BJP officials, calling them “completely unacceptable” because they hurt the feelings of billions of Muslims around the world.
“The BJP’s attempt at clarification and belated and perfunctory disciplinary action against these individuals cannot assuage the pain and anguish they have caused the Muslim world,” the Foreign Office said, urging India to take decisive and demonstrable action against those who made derogatory remarks and attacked the Prophet’s dignity (PBUH).
Pakistan summoned India’s charge d’affaires in Islamabad the next day and issued a stern demarche.
In a statement released today, Pakistan urged the BJP leadership and the Indian government to “unequivocally denounce the sacrilegious comments of BJP officials and ensure that they are held accountable for assaulting the dignity” of the Holy Prophet by decisive and tangible action (PBUH).
The ministry also urged the international community, including the United Nations (UN) and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), to take notice of and put a stop to “the dangerously rising ‘Hindutva’ inspired Islamophobia in India, and persuade Indian authorities to prevent systematic human rights violations against minorities in the country.”
In a tweet later that day, the Pakistan Army condemned “blasphemous remarks by Indian leaders.”
Pakistan Armed Forces strongly condemn blasphemous remarks by Indian officials.The outrageous act is deeply hurtful and clearly indicates extreme level of hate against Muslims and other religions in India.
— DG ISPR (@OfficialDGISPR) June 6, 2022
Meanwhile, Sheikh Ahmad bin Hamad Al-Khalil, Oman’s grand mufti, tweeted that the “obscene” words of India’s ruling party’s spokesperson amounted to a “war against every Muslim.”
The remarks by the BJP officials came in the “background of rising hostility and abuse toward Islam in India, as well as systematic activities against Muslims,” according to OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha.
India reminded both Qatar and Kuwait that the offending ideas were not shared by the Indian government, but rather by “fringe elements.” “Strong action” has been taken against those who made the offensive statements, according to the statement.
Embassy's response to a media query regarding statement issued by MOFA, State of Kuwait on an offensive tweet in India: pic.twitter.com/8s0Qai0FWs
— India in Kuwait (@indembkwt) June 5, 2022
BJP suspends party membership of leaders
According to the Hindustan Times, the ruling BJP banned Sharma and expelled Jindal from the party after severe criticism from Muslim countries.
The party did not name anyone in its statement, but it did emphasise that it does not tolerate religious insults and respects all faiths.
“The Bharatiya Janata Party is also opposed to any ideology that denigrates or degrades any faith or group. The BJP does not support such people or ideologies… Throughout India’s thousands of years of history, every faith has flowered and thrived. All religions are respected by the Bharatiya Janata Party “According to the declaration.
RELATED: Following BJP officials’ Islamophobic remarks, India has come under fire
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