INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
TEHRAN - The Indian ambassador has been summoned by Iran's Foreign Ministry in protest over a television debate in which sacrilegious
words were made about Islam's Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him), eliciting considerable criticism throughout the Muslim
world.
According to the Iranian Foreign Ministry website, the director general of the South Asia Department summoned the Indian envoy on
Sunday to convoy the Iranian government's and people's strong opposition to the sacrilegious insults made against the Prophet
Muhammad.For his part, the Indian ambassador expressed remorse, stating that any desecration against the Prophet of Islam is intolerable.The
envoy further underlined that the remarks made by two governing party leaders did not reflect the Indian government's viewpoint, which he
stated respects all religions.Nupur Sharma, the spokesperson for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), made harsh remarks about the
Prophet of Islam during a recent TV news debate, which drew considerable condemnation across the country and prompted violent confrontations
in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, on Friday.Sharma was suspended from the BJP on Sunday, although the party distanced itself from her nasty
statements.After a tweet was written to insult the Prophet but afterwards was deleted, the party dismissed Naveen Kumar Jindal, the party's
thousands of years of the history of India, every religion has blossomed and flourished
The Bharatiya Janata Party respects all religions
Bharatiya Janata Party is also strongly against any ideology, which insults or demeans any sect or religion
remarks have sparked uproar.Pakistan condemned the very insulting statements in the "strongest possible terms," according to a
statement."Pakistan once again calls on the international community to take immediate cognizance of the grievously aggravating situation of
Islamophobia in India," it pointed out.Kuwait summoned the Indian ambassador, noting to have delivered him a protest note rejecting and
denouncing the BJP official's views.In a statement, Qatar's Foreign Ministry said it appreciated the (BJP) party's decision to suspend
the official, but that it expected a public apology and prompt denunciation of the Indian government's statements.On the second day of a
high-profile visit by India's Vice President Venkaiah Naidu and Indian business leaders, Deepak Mittal, the Indian ambassador in Doha, was
summoned to the Foreign Ministry.According to the foreign ministry statement, the ambassador was given an official complaint letter that
stated, "Qatar is expecting a public apology and immediate condemnation of these remarks from the government of India.""Allowing such
Islamophobic remarks to continue without punishment constitutes a grave danger to the protection of human rights" and "will create a cycle
of violence and hate", it underlined.The Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) also criticized the sacrilegious remarks, stating that
they were made in the "context of intensifying hatred and abuse towards Islam in India and systematic practices against Muslims."The
Ansarullah movement in Yemen also lambasted the BJP spokesperson's disrespectful words against Prophet Muhammad, calling them "moral
