"Allowing such Islamophobic remarks to continue without punishment constitutes grave danger to the protection of human rights and may lead to further prejudice and marginalization which will create a cycle of violence and hate," he added.
He called upon the world community, United Nations and international human rights organizations to take a serious notice of rising Islamophobia and systematic religious persecution in India without impunity and take all steps necessary to put an end to it.
Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also called out the comments made by the Indian leader and urged the world to take notice and reprimand India. "... Have said it repeatedly that India under Modi is trampling religious freedoms & persecuting Muslims. World should take note & severely reprimand India."He said the love of Muslims for the Prophet was supreme and they could sacrifice their lives for the Holy figure.
Yemen's Ansarullah movement also condemned the BJP spokesperson's insulting remarks against Prophet Muhammad as unacceptable, noting that it indicated "moral bankruptcy" of those behind such remarks.
The grand mufti of Oman, Sheikh Ahmad bin Hamad Al-Khalil, tweeted that the "obscene" comments of the spokesperson of India's ruling party amounted to a "war against every Muslim".
According to Hindustan Times, BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and another party leader, Naveen Kumar Jindal, made disrespectful remarks about the Prophet and after worldwide condemnation of these remarks, India's ruling party had to distance itself from their statements, announcing disciplinary action against the duo.
Delhi-based journalist Saba Naqvi told Al Jazeera that the BJP had benefitted politically from "mobilisation" against Muslims in India. "But in this instance, there has been an international price to pay," Naqvi said. "India has one of the world's largest Muslim populations, so it has come to the notice of the world that this is happening," she told Al Jazeera.
The controversy has raised the ire of social media users in Arab countries who have called for a boycott of Indian products, denounced the escalation of hatred against Islam and Muslims, and accused India of following in the footsteps of France and China in promoting Islamophobia, Al Jazeera said.
(Article changed on Jun 06, 2022 at 4:02 PM EDT)
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