GULF countries, including Saudi Arabia, have condemned remarks made by a top Indian official about the Prophet Muhammad that are described as “Islamophobic”.

The remarks by a spokesman for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party last week were blamed for clashes in an Indian state and prompted demands for her arrest, with anger spreading overseas to Muslim countries.

Saudi Arabia becomes the latest Gulf country to condemn the remarks made by Bharatiya Janata Party spokesman Nupur Sharma during a televised debate last week.

Riyadh described the comments as “insulting” and called for “respect for beliefs and religions”, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

Qatar has also demanded India apologise for the “Islamophobic” comments, as India’s vice-president Venkaiah Naidu visits the wealthy state in a bid to bolster trade.

India’s ambassador in Doha Deepak Mittal was ordered to the Foreign Ministry on the second day of the high profile visit by Naidu and Indian business leaders.

The envoy was handed an official protest letter, which said “Qatar is expecting a public apology and immediate condemnation of these remarks from the government of India”, according to a Foreign Ministry statement.

“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”.

Kuwait said, like Qatar, it has summoned India’s ambassador, amid widespread calls on social media for a boycott of Indian goods in the Gulf.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), based in the Saudi city of Jeddah, also condemned the remarks yesterday, saying they come in a “context of intensifying hatred and abuse towards Islam in India and systematic practices against Muslims”.

India’s BJP yesterday suspended Sharma for expressing “views contrary to the party’s position”.

The party, which has been accused of acting against the Muslim minority in the country, said it “respects all religions”.

Sharma on Twitter said her comments were in response to “insults” made against the Hindu god Shiva.

“If my words have caused discomfort or hurt religious feelings of anyone whatsoever, I unconditionally withdraw my statement,” she said.

New Delhi has made no immediate comment, but its embassy in Doha released a statement saying that “strong action” has been taken against “fringe elements” who make derogatory comments.

The embassy gave no further detail. – AFP, June 6, 2022.