Minister for Foreign Affairs Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Sunday had a telephone conversation with Secretary-General of Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha and they discussed the issue of rising Islamophobia in India.
In a tweet on the social media platform Twitter, Bilawal said that the conversation focused on the series of Islamophobic actions in India, in particular derogatory remarks made by two senior officials of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Spoke to OIC SG HE Hissein Brahim Taha on the totally unacceptable and condemnable remarks by Indian BJP officials towards the Holy Prophet PBUH. Shared concerns on rising Islamophobia and persecution of Muslims in India and the need to address that through collective efforts.
— BilawalBhuttoZardari (@BBhuttoZardari) June 12, 2022
The foreign minister said that he spoke to the OIC secretary-general about the totally unacceptable and condemnable remarks by Indian BJP officials towards the Holy Prophet (PBUH).
They shared concerns on rising Islamophobia and persecution of Muslims in India and the need to address that through collective efforts.
There have been widespread protests in the Muslim world since last week when spokeswoman Nupur Sharma for PM Modi’s BJP passed blasphemous remarks.
In India and neighbouring countries, Muslims took to the streets in huge numbers after Friday prayer to condemn the remarks, with police firing on a crowd in the eastern Indian city of Ranchi.
Sharma’s remarks have embroiled India in a diplomatic storm, with the governments of nearly 20 countries calling in Indian envoys for an explanation.
Since coming to power nationally in 2014, the Modi government and the BJP have been accused of championing discriminatory policies toward Muslims.
Read more: Indian police kill two during protests against blasphemous remarks
His government proposed a controversial law that granted citizenship to refugees in India, but not if they are Muslim, while state BJP governments have passed laws making it harder for Muslims to marry outside their religion.
Last week, the foreign ministry rebuked US officials for what India termed “ill-informed” and “biased” comments made during the release of a religious freedom report that accused Indian officials of supporting attacks on minority worshippers.
Sharma’s comments sent the BJP into damage control, with the party suspending her from its ranks and issuing a statement saying it respected all religions.
Friday saw the biggest South Asian street rallies yet in response to the remarks, with police estimating more than 100,000 people mobilised across Bangladesh after midday prayers.
Another 5,000 people took to the streets in Lahore, demanding that their government take stronger action against India over the comments.