New Delhi: More Islamic countries joined to condemn the controversial remarks against Prophet Mohammad by now-expelled and suspended functionaries of the BJP, with the UAE being the latest to issue a statement, and closer home, the Maldives and Indonesia also issued statements.
The United Arab Emirates Foreign Ministry condemned statements by the spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party, expressing its denunciation and rejection of insults of the Prophet Muhammad.
In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) affirmed the “UAE’s firm rejection of all practices and behaviours that contradict moral and human values and principles.”
“The Ministry underscored the need to respect religious symbols and not violate them, as well as confront hate speech and violence.
“The Ministry also noted the importance of strengthening the shared international responsibility to spread the values of tolerance and human coexistence while preventing any practices that would inflame the sentiment of followers of different religions,” it said.
Indonesia’s Foreign Affairs Ministry in a statement said it had conveyed its strong objections of the statements made by the two BJP functionaries — Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal — to the Indian Ambassador.
Indonesia said it “strongly condemns unacceptable derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad by two Indian politicians. This message has been conveyed to Indian Ambassador in Jakarta.”
The Government of Maldives in a statement said that it unreservedly condemns all and any action that attempts to demean the Prophet Muhammad and Islam.
Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement expressed the government’s condemnation and denunciation of the offensive statements made by two officials of Indian BJP Party, insulting the holy Prophet Muhammad and the religion of Islam.
Additionally, the statement said that the Government of Maldives welcomes the denouncement by the Government of India of the derogatory remarks by the concerned officials and the prompt action taken by BJP against those officials.
The BJP suspended spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled Naveen Kumar Jindal on Sunday for their statements. The party has categorically distanced itself from their views stating they are “fringe elements” , and that their views are not the view of the Indian government .
The government of India has also made it clear that it accords the “highest respect to all religions”.
Many Islamic Countries and organizations have been condemning and taking action over the comments by the two Indian officials.
India’s ambassadors to Kuwait, Qatar and Iran were summoned on Sunday to receive official notes of protest over the comments.
The list of Middle Eastern countries issuing condemnations include Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran and Qatar and also the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council.
Pakistan, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the OIC have also condemned the remarks.
