Muslim nations have strongly condemned insulting statements made by India’s governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) officials against Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), with Qatar, Kuwait, and Iran calling on India’s envoy to voice their anger on Sunday.
Qatar has asked India to issue a public apology for allowing such “Islamophobic” ideas to be spoken without retaliation.
Kuwait announced in a statement that it had sent over a “formal protest note expressing the State of Kuwait’s strong rejection and condemnation of the disrespectful words made by one of the ruling party’s leaders against the Holy Prophet (PBUH), Islam, and Muslims.”
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
Shehbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, also condemned the BJP leader’s remarks and asked the international community to condemn India.
I’ve said it before: Modi’s India is eroding religious freedom and harassing Muslims. India should be severely humiliated by the rest of the world. “
He said that Muslims’ devotion to the Prophet (PBUH) was unconditional and that they would willingly give their lives for the Holy figure.
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.
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 immediate charge of these statements from the government of India,” Qatar stated.
It stated that permitting such Islamophobic statements to go unpunished posed a major threat to human rights protection and might lead to greater discrimination and marginalization, resulting in a cycle of violence and hatred.
Meanwhile, Pakistan has condemned the statements made by two BJP officials, calling them “completely unacceptable” since they hurt the feelings of billions of Muslims throughout the world.
The Foreign Office said it urged India to take decisive and demonstrable action against those who made derogatory remarks and attacked the Prophet’s dignity (PBUH).
Pakistan also urged the world community to address India’s “grievously worsening issue of Islamophobia” as soon as possible.
Sheikh Ahmad bin Hamad Al-Khalil, Oman’s grand mufti, stated that the “indecent words” of India’s governing party’s spokesperson called for a “war against every Muslim.”
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
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
individuals who made the offensive statements, according to the statement.
Leaders of the BJP have had their membership in the party revoked.
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 identify anyone in its statement, but it did emphasize that it does not tolerate religious insults and respects all religions.
“The Bharatiya Janata Party opposes any philosophy that denigrates or degrades any sect or faith.” The BJP does not support such people or ideologies… Throughout India’s thousands of years of history, every faith has flourished and thrived. The Bharatiya Janata Party, according to the statement, “respects all religions.”
