More effective diplomacy requires to highlight Kashmir issue at the glob: Ali Raza Syed

 

BRUSSELS, OCT 14 /DNA/ – Chairman Kashmir Council EU Ali Raza Syed has said that Pakistan needs more effective diplomacy to highlight the Kashmir issue at the global level in the current scenario.

He was addressing a seminar at National University of Modern Languages ​​(NUML), Islamabad, a well-known educational institution of Pakistan, yesterday. Political analyst and university professor Tahir Naeem Malik, international relations teacher and researcher Dr. Syed Sibtain Shah and management sciences professor Dr. Abdul Wahid and student leaders Ubaid Khan and Mansoor Qaisrani also addressed the seminar.

Ali Raza Syed said that although the Kashmir issue has been a recognized global issue for the past seven decades, but after August 2019, this conflict has once again become the focus of the world’s special attention. Especially the way India has removed two provisions of its constitution for ending the special status of Jammu and Kashmir and increased atrocities on Kashmiris, the issue needs to be highlighted with a new strategy.

He said that the Pakistani political leadership and Pakistan authorities should come together and formulate a new strategy on this issue by which they can stop India’s illegal actions in Jammu and Kashmir and expose India’s terrible face to the world.

Ali Raza Syed said that along with revoking the special status of Kashmir, India has changed the domicile law of Jammu and Kashmir and its nefarious purpose is to bring people from other regions of India to settle in Jammu and Kashmir. Work on this conspiracy has already started. India’s aim is to change the proportion of the population in Jammu and Kashmir in order to achieve its objectives in case of any possible plebiscite in the region of Jammu and Kashmir.

He further said that many political leaders of occupied Kashmir, human rights activists and journalists are imprisoned in Indian jails and their lives are in danger.

Chairman Kashmir Council EU Ali Raza Syed also addressed an other gathering called by Kashmir Council at NUML, an organization of Kashmiri students, on the occasion of his visit to the University main campus in Islamabad. During this event, Dr. Syed Sibtain Shah and Prof. Tahir Naeem introduced the guest.

Ali Raza Syed urged the Kashmiri students to pay full attention to their studies and try to understand the Kashmir issue in the current context. Try to make the world aware of Kashmir conflict and Indian atrocities against the people of Kashmir.

He asked all the students present on the occasion to play their role for the development and prosperity of the society. A cake was also cut by the organization office bearers on the occasion.

Kashmir Council EU Chairman Ali Raza Syed also visited the Press Club on the invitation of Pakistan Federation of Unions of Journalists (PFUJ)’s President Afzal Butt. The host, press club officials and other senior journalists welcomed the guest and people accompanying him. Afzal Butt paid tribute to Chairman Kashmir Council EU Ali Raza Syed for highlighting Kashmir issue in Europe. Ali Raza Syed thanked the host and while talking on situation of human rights in occupied Jammu and Kashmir said, the occupied land needs attention of the world. He appreciated the services of Khurram Parvez, Parvez Imrooz, Parveena Ahangar, Ahsan Untoo for raising human rights of the Kashmiris. He demanded the immediate release of Yasin Malik, Shabbir Shah, Khurram Parvez, Ahsan Untoo and other Kashmiri prisoners.

On this occasion, Professor of Politics Tahir Naeem Malik and International Relations teacher and researcher Dr. Syed Sibtain Shah, Professor Saeed Ahmad, Mohsin Raza Khan, Abid Abbasi and others were also present on the occasion. Specially Professor Saeed Ahmad talked on historical and cultural aspect of Jammu and Kashmir with particular reference to Sufi poetry. Afzal Butt hosted dinner in honor of Chairman Kashmir Council EU Ali Raza Syed at the press club.

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‘Pakistan Trade & Cultural Centre’ inaugurated at Pak Embassy in Bulgaria

 

SOFIA, OCT 12 /DNA/  –  A ‘Pakistan Trade and Cultural Centre’ was inaugurated in the Embassy of Pakistan today. The centre displays samples relating to main Pakistani export items i.e., textile products, leather goods, sports goods, surgical instruments & medical supplies, Himalayan salt product and traditional Pakistani handicrafts. Different paintings depicting the rich cultural diversity of Pakistani provinces are also displayed in the centre.

The inauguration of the centre was carried out by Mr. Tsvetan Simeonov, President of the Bulgarian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, in a simple and dignified ceremony which was attended by different businessmen from Sofia as well as representatives of regional chambers. Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Simeonov thanked the Embassy for its continuous efforts and initiatives to strengthen trade relations between the two friendly countries, including by organizing exhibitions and arranging online B-2-B meetings.

 He appreciated the initiative of the Embassy to establish this ‘Trade & Cultural Centre’ which would help the Bulgarian businessmen immensely as they could see the samples directly and get information about the respective businesses. On the occasion, he also encouraged the Bulgarian businesses to take advantage of GSP+ status of Pakistan which allowed the import of products duty-free in the European Union markets.

In her remarks, the Ambassador thanked Mr. Simeonov and officials of BCCI for their continuous support to all initiatives of the Embassy aimed at cementing the trade relations between the two countries. She said that the actual trade volume between the two countries was still not commensurate with the actual potential that exists between the two economies. In this regard, she encouraged the Bulgarian businesses to take advantage of still-unexplored Pakistani market and established useful business linkages with their counterparts there. She assured full support of the Embassy to the concerned business associations and companies in Bulgaria in this regard.

On the occasion, documentaries depicting the trade and tourism potential as well as rich cultural diversity of Pakistan were also shown to the participants.   

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Kazakhstan says it continues fulfilling obligations under CSTO

 

ANKARA, Oct 12: Kazakhstan continues to fulfill its obligations under the Russian-led Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), the country’s defense minister said on Wednesday.

“No crisis within the intergovernmental military alliance,” Ruslan Zhaksylykov said. “Let’s rely on our state, on our legislation. We comply with all the established norms, everything is in order with us,” he added, urging against speculation on the alliance.

The statement comes two weeks after top military officials and defense ministers gathered for a meeting of the Council of Defense Ministers of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a regional Eurasian bloc of post-Soviet countries.

On Sunday, CSTO member Kyrgyzstan announced the cancellation of the alliance’s military exercises a day before they were scheduled to begin.

No statement was released on the reason behind the cancellation, but it came amid border tensions between Kyrgyzstan and neighboring Tajikistan, also a CSTO member.

The CSTO was founded in 1992 and consists of six former Soviet states, namely Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, and Tajikistan.

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US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar submits resolution to designate India 'country of particular concern'

 

US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar has introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives, condemning violations of human rights and religious freedom in India and calling for Secretary of State Antony Blinken to designate India as a "country of particular concern", it emerged on Thursday.

The resolution, co-sponsored by lawmakers Rashida Talib and Juan Vargas, was submitted on Tuesday, according to the US Congress website. It based its arguments to declare India as a country of particular concern on the conclusions and findings of a report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).

The resolution

The text of the resolution, available on the US Congress website, highlighted that the USCIRF had called for designating India as a country of particular concern for 3 consecutive years.

Citing the USCIRF’s 2022 annual report, the resolution stated that in 2021, “the Indian government escalated its promotion and enforcement of policies — including those promoting a Hindu-nationalist agenda — that negatively affect Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, and other religious minorities”.

According to the resolution, the report further said: “The government continued to systemise its ideological vision of a Hindu state at both the national and state levels through the use of both existing and new laws and structural changes hostile to the country’s religious minorities.”

Moreover, the resolution said, the report described the use of laws such as the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and the Sedition Law in India as a means “to create an increasing climate of intimidation and fear in an effort to silence anyone speaking out against the government”.

The report also mentioned cases of the Indian government's “repression of religious minority leaders and voices for religious pluralism in India, including the Jesuit human rights defender Father Stan Swamy and the Muslim human rights advocate Khurram Parvez,” the resolution said, adding that the report also listed numerous examples of the Indian government "criminalising, harassing, and repressing interfaith couples and converts from Hinduism to Christianity or Islam".

In this connection, the report also highlighted the "severe risks of the Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Registry of Citizens for Indian Muslims, including the possibility of rendering millions stateless or subject to indefinite detention".

According to the resolution, the report said: "In 2021, numerous attacks were made on religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians, and their neighbourhoods, businesses, homes, and houses of worship.

"Many of these incidents were violent, unprovoked, and/or encouraged or incited by government officials."

The USCIRF report further stated: “In 2021, mass protests continued against farm laws enacted in September 2020. Despite the widespread and diverse nature of the protests, efforts — including by government officials — were still made to discredit the protesters, especially Sikh protesters, as terrorists and religiously motivated separatists.”

The resolution said the report further cited a 2021 Oxfam India study which found that a third of Indian Muslims reported discriminatory treatment at hospitals during the surge of Covid in India.

"As of June 2022, USCIRF lists 45 Indian nationals on its Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims list, all of whom were listed for their detention," the resolution stated, adding that 35 of those 45 prisoners of conscience remain detained.

The resolution also referred to a 2021 report of the State Department, which was published on June 2, 2022.

The 'Report on International Religious Freedom' outlined numerous examples of violence and threats of violence against religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians, in India throughout 2021, the resolution said.

It added that while launching the report during a press conference, Blinken said: "In India, the world’s largest democracy and home to a great diversity of faiths, we’ve seen rising attacks on people and places of worship."

And at the same press conference, the resolution continued, Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Rashad Hussain said: “We are concerned with targeting of a number of religious communities in India, including Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindu Dalits, and indigenous communities as well."

On these grounds, the resolution concluded, the House condemned human rights violations and violations of international religious freedom in India, including those targeting Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, Adivasis, and other religious and cultural minorities.

It added that the House also expressed grave concern about the "worsening treatment" of religious minorities in India and called on Blinken to designate India as a "country of particular concern" under the International Religious Freedom Act of, 1998.

The resolution has been referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs.

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COURTESY DAWN NEWS

Pay with Visa, fly with Qatar Airways and win FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 package

 

Get up to 12% savings on your Qatar Airways flight along with a chance to win a complimentary FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ package 

13 lucky winners will win a trip of a lifetime to the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ 

The promotion will run for flights booked and travelled by 31st August 2022

ISLAMABAD, JUN 16: Qatar Airways passengers who are Visa cardholders in UAE, Kuwait and Oman, are being rewarded with the chance to win special savings and prizes, including a fantastic FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022™ package thanks to Visa and Qatar Airways. The package includes match tickets along with 3-4 nights of hotel accommodation in Qatar. Some of the packages offered as prizes include airline tickets to / from Qatar. In time for making travel plans for this summer, the promotion also gives Visa card holders up to 12% discount for flight tickets booked from Iraq, Jordan, Kuwait, Oman, UAE and Pakistan.

The offer will be valid for online bookings completed through www.qatarairways.com using the promotional code VISA22, payment made with Visa cards and travel starting within the campaign period. The promotion will be offered for all Qatar Airways-operated destinations subject to certain exclusions. 

Qatar Airways VP Sales – Middle East, Levant, Caucasus and Pakistan, Mr. Dersenish Aresandiran, said: “The FIFA World Cup coming to Qatar this year is a major draw for passengers from all over the World. As the World’s Best Airline, we are delighted to be able to work with Visa to offer passengers the opportunity to join us here in Qatar for this extraordinary event.”

Madhur Mehra, Visa’s Head of Merchant Sales and Acquiring for MENA, said: “As travel continues to reopen post-pandemic, this promotion is a great way to reward Qatar Airways passengers when they use their Visa card to book their travel. We are delighted to partner with Qatar’s national carrier to enrich Visa cardholders’ payment experiences with chances to win once in a lifetime and unique prizes.”

Qatar Airways is providing incredible travel options during Summer 2022 with flights operating daily from the World’s Best Airport, Hamad International, to its global network with a huge number of leisure choices. Whether passengers are seeking summer vacations including tranquil beach gateways, energetic city breaks, bold adventure destinations or incredible family and friend escapes, there is something for everyone.

The airline is providing global connectivity from more than 150 gateways worldwide to some of the most desired vacation destinations, whilst offering unparalleled comfort and exceptional service on board to give passengers an unforgettable journey.

A multiple award-winning airline, Qatar Airways was named ‘World’s Best Airline’ in the latest World Airline Awards, managed by the international air transport rating organisation Skytrax. The airline’s hub, HIA, was recently recognised as the ‘Best Airport in the World 2021’, ranking at number one in the Skytrax World Airport Awards 2021.

In addition to this, Qatar Airways has become the first global airline in the world to achieve the prestigious 5-Star COVID-19 Airline Safety Rating by Skytrax. This follows the success of Hamad International Airport (HIA) as the first airport in the Middle East and Asia to be awarded a Skytrax 5-Star COVID-19 Airport Safety Rating. These awards provide assurance to passengers across the world that the airline’s health and safety standards are subject to the highest possible standards of professional, independent scrutiny and assessment. 

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Indian police crack down on protests over anti-Islam remarks

 

NEW DELHI, JUN 12: Indian police cracked down on protests on Sunday that erupted across the country over derogatory remarks against Holy Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) by members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Muslims have taken to the streets to protest against anti-Islamic comments made by two members of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the recent week.

Earlier this month, the BJP suspended its spokeswoman Nupur Sharma and expelled another leader, Naveen Kumar Jindal, for their controversial comments about the Prophet (P.B.U.H) that also angered several Muslim countries, causing a massive diplomatic challenge for the Modi government.

Police cases have been filed against the two former BJP officials.

Countries such as Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Oman, and Iran, which are key trade partners for India, lodged protests through diplomatic channels and used social media to demand an apology from the government.

India’s foreign ministry said last week that the tweets and comments do not reflect the views of the government.

Clashes over the remarks simmered across the country, as some in the minority Muslim community see them as the latest instance of pressure and humiliation under BJP rule on issues ranging from freedom of worship to the wearing of hijab head scarves.

Two teenagers were killed when police opened fire on protesters in the eastern city of Ranchi last week.

Sporadic riots in northern Uttar Pradesh state led to the arrests of over 300 people.

In the eastern state of West Bengal, authorities enforced an emergency law prohibiting public gatherings in the industrial district of Howrah until June 16. At least 70 people were arrested on charges of rioting and disturbing public order, with Internet services suspended for over 48 hours after the latest communal violence.

In occupied Kashmir, police arrested a youth for posting a video against Nupur Sharma, a former spokesperson of India’s ruling party who had made derogatory remarks about the Prophet (P.B.U.H), officials said on Sunday.

The video, circulated on YouTube, has been withdrawn by authorities as part of a wider attempt to curb religious unrest that has spread across the country.

BJP leaders have issued instructions to several senior members to be “extremely cautious” when talking about religion on public platforms and the government continues to tighten public security. The report also said police raided the home of student leader Afreen Fatima, arresting her father Mohammad Javed, mother and sister. They have accused her father, who is diabetic and needs insulin daily , of “masterminding the protests”.

“First a police party came at around 8:30pm and took away my father and then they came at 11:30pm and detained my mother and sister. Third time they came at 2:30am to detain me but we resisted and since then the policemen have cordoned off our house,” Fatima told.

“We are only women and children at home. We feel cornered and traumatised. The police have asked us to leave the house locked.

“I have no idea where my father, mother and sister are. I am worried about their safety. My father is a diabetic and he needs insulin injection every night.”

Pakistan condemns ‘brutal treatment’ of Muslims protesting in India

Meanwhile, Pakistan on Saturday strongly condemned the “heavy-handed treatment by the Indian authorities of Muslim who were registering a peaceful protest after Friday prayers”.

In a statement issued on June 11, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs noted that the “indiscriminate and widespread” use of brute force by the Indian authorities across various states in India had resulted in killing of two innocent Muslim protesters and critically injured thirteen others in Ranchi city.

“The footage of Indian forces unabashedly opening fire on unarmed protesters in Ranchi city is horrific beyond belief. This is a new low in the Indian government’s repressive ‘Hindutva’ inspired majoritarian policy aimed at demonizing and persecuting minorities, especially Muslims,” it said.

“Pakistan denounces this shameful treatment of Indian Muslim citizens by the Indian government and expresses its solidarity with the Muslims of India in these testing times.”

The ministry called the situation in the neighbouring country alarming, continuing that despite the global condemnation of the BJP officials’ sacrilegious remarks, the Indian government’s reaction had been muted, while on the other hand the BJP-RSS regime had persisted in its Islamophobic actions and had shamefully chosen to handle public protest with brutal and indiscriminate use of force.

“The Indian Government’s apathy to the grievous situation and the vicious cycle of communal violence may lead to further marginalization of the Indian Muslims,” it warned, urging the international community to take immediate cognisance of the grievously aggravating situation of Islamophobia in India.

India must be held accountable for stifling the rights of the minorities, especially Muslims, and ensure that Muslims living in India are not victimized for practicing their faith and religious beliefs, the ministry added.

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COURTESY DAWN NEWS

Senate, National Assembly pass resolutions as Muslim world slams India for ‘insults to Islam’

 

KARACHI: The Indian government on Monday sought to calm anger at home and abroad following derogatory remarks by BJP members about the Holy Prophet (Peace Be Upon Him), as Pakistan and other Islamic countries continued to put pressure on New Delhi to apologise for hurting the sentiments of millions of Muslims around the world.

According to Reuters, at least 38 people were arrested for rioting in Kanpur while another protest was held in Mumbai.

Top Indian officials remained engaged with managing the diplomatic fallout as more Muslim nations, including Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Oman, UAE, Maldives, Jordan, Afghanistan and Iran as well as the influential Al-Azhar University in Cairo demanded an apology from the government in Delhi for allowing the derogatory remarks, an Indian foreign ministry official said.

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC), in a statement, said: “These insults come in the context of the increasing intensity in hatred of and insults to Islam in India and the systematic harassment of Muslims.”

NA, SENATE PASS RESOLUTIONS OF CONDEMNATION; RIYADH, TEHRAN AND OIC SLAM DELHI FOR ‘INSULTS TO ISLAM’

The 57-member body cited the latest decision to ban the hijab at educational institutions in several Indian states and the destruction of Muslim property to highlight what it said was the Indian government’s bias.

Indian diplomats stationed in the Gulf and neighbouring Islamic countries like Iran and Pakistan were summoned by officials in those countries to protest against the comments by BJP officials.

Its external affairs ministry said in a statement the offensive tweets and comments did not, in any way, reflect the views of the government.

“Strong action has already been taken against these individuals by relevant bodies,” said Arindam Bagchi, a government spokesperson.

The BJP said on Sunday it had suspended a spokesperson and expelled another official for hurting the religious sentiments of a minority community.

Saudi Arabia welcomed the action taken by the BJP to suspend the spokeswoman, while a senior official at the Qatar Embassy in New Delhi said Modi’s government must publicly distance itself from the comments.

“Hurting our religious sentiments can directly impact economic ties,” the official said, adding they were checking reports about boycott of Indian goods by some supermarket owners in Qatar.

Similarly, Reuters reported that a Kuwaiti supermarket had also pulled Indian products from its shelves.

At the supermarket just outside Kuwait City, sacks of rice and shelves of spices and chilies were covered with plastic sheets. Printed signs in Arabic read: “We have removed Indian products”.

Iran followed Qatar and Kuwait by summoning the Indian ambassador to protest in the name of “the government and the people”, state news agency IRNA said late on Sunday.

Condemnations from parliament, military

In Islamabad, both houses of parliament unanimously passed resolutions condemning the BJP leaders’ remarks about the Holy Prophet (PBUH).

In the Senate, the chairman remarked that the resolution would be sent to the UN secretary general and a protest would be registered with him over the matter.

The resolution passed in the National Assembly demanded the Indian government take strict action against the offending BJP leaders and ensure that such remarks should not be repeated. It also urged the international community to take notice of Indias anti-Muslim policy.

According to the Foreign Office, the Indian Charge d Affaires was summoned and conveyed the government of Pakistan’s “categorical rejection and strong condemnation” of the remarks made by two senior officials of India’s ruling BJP).

APP reported that the Indian diplomat was told that these remarks were “totally unacceptable and had not only deeply hurt the sentiments of the people of Pakistan, but also Muslims across the world”.

The army’s publicity wing, Inter-Services Public Relations, also condemned the remarks, saying this was an indication of the extreme hatred the government held towards Muslims and other religions in India.

Federal Minister for Climate Change Senator Sherry Rehman termed the statements “shocking and provocative”, while Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb termed the incident “another manifestation of its extremist and seditionist mindset.”

Separately, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended India and four other states for designation as ‘countries of particular concern’ in its 2022 report.

The 2022 USCIRF report, released last week, covers the events that happened in 2021. It notes that “religious freedom conditions in India significantly worsened” last year.

During the year, “the Indian government escalated its promotion and enforcement of policies — including those promoting a Hindu-nationalist agenda — that negatively affect Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits,” and other religious minorities.

According to the report, the Indian government continued to “systemize its ideological vision of a Hindu state at both the national and state levels” through the use of both existing and new laws and structural changes hostile to the country’s religious minorities.

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COURTESY DAWN NEWS

Saudi Arabia joins Muslim countries in condemning BJP leaders’ derogatory remarks on Prophet “P.B.U.H”

 

RIYADH, JUN 6: Saudi Arabia joined a host of Muslim countries — including Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, Iran and Pakistan — that took strong exception to derogatory remarks made against Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) by leaders of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

According to Hindustan Times, BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and another party leader, Naveen Kumar Jindal, made disrespectful remarks about the Prophet (P.B.U.H) and after worldwide condemnation, India’s ruling party had to distance itself from their statements, announcing disciplinary action against the duo.

Qatar, Kuwait and Iran summoned India’s envoy to register their protest on Sunday, while Pakistan issued a strong demarche to the Indian charge d’affaires on Monday.

Qatar has sought a public apology from India for allowing such “Islamophobic” views without retribution.

Kuwait, in a statement, said it had handed over an “official protest note expressing the State of Kuwait’s categorical rejection and condemnation of the insulting statements against the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H), Islam and Muslims issued by one of the officials in the ruling party”.

Saudi Arabia also issued a statement condemning the remarks and called for respect for religions.

President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also called out the comments made by the BJP leaders.

The president noted that the remarks had hurt the feelings of Muslims around the world. “India under [Prime Minister Narendra] Modi’s Hindutva philosophy is trampling religious freedoms of all its minorities and persecuting them without any impunity”. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz tweeted, “… 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 (P.B.U.H) was supreme and they could sacrifice their lives for the Holy figure.

In a statement, Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry said it “reaffirms its permanent rejection of prejudice against the symbols of the Islamic religion and refuses to prejudice all religious figures and symbols”.

The country also welcomed the BJP’s decision to suspend Sharma, the statement added. Qatar summoned the Indian envoy and handed him an official note that expressed Qatar’s disappointment and “its total rejection and condemnation [of] the controversial remarks made by an official in the ruling party in India against Prophet Mohammed … Islam and Muslims,” according to a statement issued by its foreign ministry.

Qatar said it is “expecting a public apology and immediate condemnation of these remarks from the Government of India”.

It noted that allowing such Islamophobic remarks to continue without punishment constituted a grave danger to the protection of human rights and may lead to further prejudice and marginalisation, which will create a cycle of violence and hate.

Meanwhile, Pakistan said the remarks made by two officials of the ruling BJP were “totally unacceptable” as they hurt the sentiments of billions of Muslims around the world.

“BJP’s attempted clarification and belated and perfunctory disciplinary action against these individuals cannot assuage the pain and anguish they have caused to the Muslim world,” the Foreign Office said, urging India to ensure that decisive and demonstrable action was taken against those responsible for making derogatory remarks and attacking the dignity of Prophet (P.B.U.H).

A day later, Pakistan summoned the Indian charge d’ affaires in Islamabad and issued a strong demarche.

In a statement issued today, Pakistan strongly urged the BJP leadership and the Indian government to “unequivocally condemn the sacrilegious comments of the BJP officials and ensure that they are held accountable through decisive and demonstrable action for attacking the dignity” of the Holy Prophet (P.B.U.H).

The ministry further called upon the international community, including the United Nations (UN) and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to take notice of and stop “the dangerously rising ‘Hindutva’ inspired Islamophobia in India, and prevail upon the Indian authorities to prevent the systematic human rights violations against minorities in the country”.

Later in the day, the Pakistan Army also condemned the “blasphemous remarks by Indian officials” in a tweet. Meanwhile, 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”.

OIC Secretary General Hissein Brahim Taha also said that the BJP leaders’ remarks came in “context of intensifying hatred and abuse toward Islam in India and systematic practices against Muslims”.

India told both Qatar and Kuwait that the offensive views did not reflect those of the government of India, instead attributing these to “fringe elements”. It said that “strong action” had been taken against those responsible for the derogatory remarks.

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COURTESY DAWN NEWS

Uproar in Muslim world after BJP leaders’ derogatory remarks on Prophet "P.B.U.H"

 

NEW DELHI, JUN 5: Muslim countries have taken strong exception to derogatory remarks made against Prophet Muhammad (P.B.U.H) by leaders of India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), with Qatar, Kuwait and Iran summoning India’s envoy to register their protest.

Qatar has sought a public apology from India for allowing such “Islamophobic” views without retribution.

Kuwait, in a statement, said it had handed over an “official protest note expressing the State of Kuwait’s categorical rejection and condemnation of the insulting statements against the Holy Prophet (PBUH), Islam and Muslims issued by one of the officials in the ruling party.”

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also called out the comments made by the BJP 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 (PBUH) was supreme and they could sacrifice their lives for the Holy figure.

According to Hindustan Times, BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and another party leader, Naveen Kumar Jindal, made disrespectful remarks about the Prophet (PBUH) and after worldwide condemnation of these remarks, India’s ruling party had to distance itself from their statements, announcing disciplinary action against the duo.

Qatar summoned the Indian envoy and handed him an official note that expressed Qatar’s disappointment and “its total rejection and condemnation [of] the controversial remarks made by an official in the ruling party in India against Prophet Mohammed … Islam and Muslims,” according to a statement issued by its foreign ministry.

Qatar said “it is expecting a public apology and immediate condemnation of these remarks from the Government of India.”

It noted that allowing such Islamophobic remarks to continue without punishment constituted a grave danger to the protection of human rights and may lead to further prejudice and marginalisation, which will create a cycle of violence and hate.

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”.

BJP suspends party membership of leaders

Following a strong reaction from the Muslim countries, the ruling BJP suspended Sharma and expelled Jindal from the party for their remarks, according to Hindustan Times.

The statement issued by the party did not name anyone but it underlined that the party did not condone insults to any religion and respects all faiths.

“The Bharatiya Janata Party is also against any ideology which insults or demeans any sect or religion. The BJP does not promote such people or philosophy…During the thousands of years of the history of India every religion has blossomed and flourished. The Bharatiya Janata Party respects all religions,” the statement said.

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COURTESY DAWN NEWS