Malaysia condemns suspended BJP spokesperson's Prophet remarks
Malaysia has condemned derogatory remarks made against Prophet Muhammad by politicians in India and summoned the country’s High Commissioner.
Wisma Putra has conveyed the country’s anger over the incident.
“Malaysia welcomes the decision by the ruling party (in India) to suspend the party officials over their provocative remarks that have generated rage among Muslim Ummah,” said a Foreign Ministry statement.
It added that Malaysia also called upon India to join hands in ending Islamophobia and cease any provocative acts in the interest of peace and stability.
Bernama reported that Malaysia was the latest to join in the chorus of condemnation against two Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) party officials over their blasphemous remarks as international outrage grows over the issue.
There has been condemnation within India as well. Following the outrage, India’s ruling BJP suspended the two leaders who made incendiary remarks on television and social media.
The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Oman, Indonesia, Jordan, Iraq, the Maldives, Bahrain and Turkey are among countries where the Indian politicians’ comments have been condemned.
“Indonesia strongly condemns unacceptable derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad by two Indian politicians. This message has been conveyed to Indian Ambassador in Jakarta,” said the Indonesian Foreign Ministry.
Qatar has asked for an Indian government apology over the comments.
The Iraqi Parliamentary Endowments and Tribes Committee said in a statement the anti-Islam insults “will have serious repercussions and, if not contained, may lead to dire consequences that will have unimaginable consequences for peaceful coexistence, as well as increase strife and tensions between peoples”.
Kuwait, Qatar, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Pakistan were among the first to make formal protests.
Cairo-based top Islamic institution Al Azhar said the derogatory words revealed a flagrant ignorance about Islam and the life and history of the prophets and messengers.
In the wealthy Gulf Arab region, there are public calls for a boycott of Indian products.
The 57-member Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) sees the BJP leader’s remarks as part of a wider pattern of Islamophobia and violence against the Muslim community in India.
In Turkey, the ruling Justice and Development Party (AK Party) spokesperson Omer Celik described them as an insult to all Muslims.
Asia News Network: The Nation (Thailand), The Korea Herald, The Straits Times (Singapore), China Daily, Jakarta Post, The Star and Sin Chew Daily (Malaysia), The Statesman (India), Philippine Daily Inquirer, Yomiuri Shimbun and The Japan News, Gogo Mongolia, Dawn (Pakistan), The Island (Sri Lanka), Kuensel (Bhutan), Kathmandu Post (Nepal), Daily Star (Bangladesh), Eleven Media (Myanmar), the Phnom Penh Post and Rasmei Kampuchea (Cambodia), The Borneo Bulletin (Brunei), Vietnam News, and Vientiane Times (Laos).
