A diplomatic crisis has emerged since this weekend between India and many countries in the Middle East – this follows remarks deemed insulting to the Prophet Muhammad, made by spokespersons for the Hindu nationalist party BJP, in power in New Delhi. Following this, Qatar, Kuwait, Iran and Saudi Arabia summoned their countries’ Indian ambassadors. This forced the BJP to sanction its members, a rare act.
With our correspondent in New Delhi, Sebastien Farcis
It was during a televised debate last week that a national BJP spokesperson, Nupur Sharma, made disparaging remarks towards the Prophet Muhammad, in relation to the age of his wife Aisha. Another spokesperson then “tweeted” in the same vein.
A sadly ordinary scenario
This first hit the Indian Muslim community, which filed a complaint against this leader. and demonstrations took place, but were strongly repressed – the authorities even speaking of an Islamist plot. So far, the storyline has been sadly ordinary lately.
Respect for all religions
But the BJP lost control when Qatar, Iran, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia also condemned the remarks; Qatar, which supplies nearly half of India’s gas and where the vice president is currently visiting, demands a public apology and systematic action against India’s growing Islamophobia. Otherwise, ” this inaction will be seen as a deliberate insult to the two billion Muslims “. The BJP therefore reacted exceptionally, by sanctioning its two spokespersons. And now maintains that he respects all religions.
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