New Delhi: The Indian government has expressed strong disapproval of remarks made by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Syed Ali Khamenei, concerning the treatment of Muslims in India, escalating diplomatic tensions between the two countries. The Ayatollah’s comments, which called for global Muslim awareness of the hardships faced by Indian Muslims, were met with immediate condemnation from New Delhi.
According to Kashmir Media Service, during a speech in Tehran commemorating the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad, Ayatollah Khamenei underscored the concept of Islamic brotherhood and highlighted the plight of Muslims globally, including those in India. The remarks were subsequently shared on his official website and on his X social media account, urging the Islamic community to remain cognizant of each other’s struggles across the world.
The Indian Ministry of External Affairs responded promptly, with spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal labeling the comments as “misinformed” and “unacceptable.” Jaiswal criticized the Iranian leader’s statement, suggesting that Iran should introspect its own treatment of minorities before critiquing other nations.
This interaction marks another chapter in a series of critiques from Ayatollah Khamenei regarding India’s internal issues, following his previous condemnations related to the anti-Muslim riots in Delhi in 2020, the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, and historical events like the Gujarat riots and the demolition of the Babri Masjid.