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== Comments about Muhammad == == Comments about Muhammad ==
On 27 May 2022, Sharma participated in a debate on the ] dispute on the ] television channel. According to Sharma,<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/bjp-prophet-muhammad-nupur-sharma-gulf-b2094698.html|title=Prophet Muhammad comments by officials from India's ruling party spark Gulf backlash|work=Independent|date=7 June 2022|accessdate=8 June 2022|first=Stuti|last=Mishra}}</ref> in response to remarks (perceived to be derogatory to ] god ]) by her opposition speaker and by many Muslim personalities on social media, she replied mockingly regarding ] and the ] of one of his wives, ], noting that Aisha was 6-years-old when married, and 9 when the marriage was consummated.
On 27 May 2022, Sharma participated in a debate on the ] dispute on the ] television channel, during which she made controversial remarks about Islam.<ref name=lucente>{{cite news|title=Explainer: India BJP Party spokesperson's comments on prophet spark backlash|url=https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2022/06/explainer-india-bjp-party-spokespersons-comments-prophet-spark-backlash|author=Adam Lucente}}</ref> She rhetorically asked if she should mock the ],<ref name=lucente/> claiming that the Qur'an preaches that the ],<ref>{{cite news|title=Muslim Countries Demand Apology After Indian Spokesperson Insults Prophet Muhammad on TV|url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/jgpe84/india-prophet-muhammad-hate-speech-muslim-countries-row|publisher=]}}</ref> and talks about "flying horses".<ref name=lucente/> She also stated that ] married ] at age 6 and had sex with her at age 9.<ref name=lucente/><ref>{{Cite web |date=2022-05-29 |title=BJP's Nupur Sharma booked over remark on Prophet Mohammed |url=https://www.siasat.com/bjps-nupur-sharma-booked-over-remark-on-prophet-mohammed-2336654/ |access-date=2022-06-06 |website=The Siasat Daily |language=en-US}}</ref> Sharma later said that here remarks were a response to what she perceived as mocking remarks about ] god ] by Muslims.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/asia/india/bjp-prophet-muhammad-nupur-sharma-gulf-b2094698.html|title=Prophet Muhammad comments by officials from India's ruling party spark Gulf backlash|work=Independent|date=7 June 2022|accessdate=8 June 2022|first=Stuti|last=Mishra}}</ref>


The ] co-founder Mohammed Zubair shared a video clip of her remarks on social media<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mohammed Zubair's Tweet |url=https://twitter.com/zoo_bear/status/1530066557191131142 |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref>. Sharma later alleged that it was a "heavily edited and selected video", which was denied by Pratik Sinha, the other co-founder of Alt News. Sinha stated that it was unedited and also included a longer clip which showed the context.<ref name="Scroll 29 May"> The ] co-founder Mohammed Zubair shared a video clip of her remarks on social media<ref>{{Cite web |title=Mohammed Zubair's Tweet |url=https://twitter.com/zoo_bear/status/1530066557191131142 |access-date=2022-06-07 |website=Twitter |language=en}}</ref>. Sharma later alleged that it was a "heavily edited and selected video", which was denied by Pratik Sinha, the other co-founder of Alt News. Sinha stated that it was unedited and also included a longer clip which showed the context.<ref name="Scroll 29 May">

Revision as of 21:38, 8 June 2022

Political fallout over divisive rhetoric "Naveen Kumar Jindal" redirects here. For the former Indian member of Parliament, see Naveen Jindal.
A request that this article title be changed to 2022 Muhammad remarks controversy is under discussion. Please do not move this article until the discussion is closed.

On 27 May 2022, Nupur Sharma, the then national spokesperson of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) made controversial remarks regarding the Islamic prophet Mohammed during a television debate. Later on 1 June 2022, Naveen Kumar Jindal, the then media head of the BJP Delhi unit, made a controversial social media post on the same subject. The two incidents led to widespread condemnation from Muslims within India and internationally. The Indian government responded by stating that the remarks did not reflect the government's position, and strong action was taken against those who made the remarks, with Sharma being suspended from the party and Jindal being expelled. However, communal tensions continued to rise, culminating in violence in Kanpur.

Naveen Kumar Jindal 🇮🇳 @NaveenJindalBJP Twitter logo, a stylized blue bird
Hindi:

नबी के दुलारो से पूछना चाहता हूँ कि तुम्हारा नबी 53 वर्ष की आयु में 6 वर्ष की छोटी बच्ची आयशा के साथ शादी करता है फिर 56 वर्ष की आयु में 9 वर्ष की आयशा के साथ संबंध बनाता है...

क्या वह संबंध बलात्कार की श्रेणी में नहीं

आता..?

I want to ask if your Prophet married a 6-year-old girl Aisha at the age of 53 and then had a sexual relationship with 9-year-old girl Aisha when he was 56 years old... Is that not classified as rape?

1 June 2022

Background

The controversy emerged amidst intensifying religious tensions in India. Many have accused India's ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), of instigating violence through divisive rhetoric against the country's Muslim minority. In June 2022, the US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, stated there were “rising attacks on people and places of worship" in India. India said the comments were "ill-informed".

In the run up to the controversy, communal tensions were elevated due to the Gyanvapi mosque dispute. Scholarly sources agree that the mosque was built by Aurangzeb, and a pre-existing Shiva temple was demolished for its construction. While Hindus maintain that the temple existed at the site before the mosque, some Muslims claim such a shrine never existed. Tensions surrounding this site have resulted in raucous debates on Indian TV channels. There had been rampant hate on social media surrounding the mosque controversy.

Comments about Muhammad

On 27 May 2022, Sharma participated in a debate on the Gyanvapi Mosque dispute on the Times Now television channel. According to Sharma, in response to remarks (perceived to be derogatory to Hindu god Shiva) by her opposition speaker and by many Muslim personalities on social media, she replied mockingly regarding Muhammad and the age of one of his wives, Aisha, noting that Aisha was 6-years-old when married, and 9 when the marriage was consummated.

The Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair shared a video clip of her remarks on social media. Sharma later alleged that it was a "heavily edited and selected video", which was denied by Pratik Sinha, the other co-founder of Alt News. Sinha stated that it was unedited and also included a longer clip which showed the context. Times Now deleted the video of the programme from its Youtube channel the next day. Sharma stated that she had started receiving rape and death threats from people. She held Zubair responsible for those threats. Alt News denied any responsibility for the reaction from the viewers after watching the video clip. BBC News refused to publish the remarks, citing their "offensive" nature.

On June 1, Naveen Kumar Jindal, tweeted remarks perceived to be derogatory to Muhammad. After the tweet attracted backlash in the Arab world, Jindal deleted the tweet and said he did not intend to demean any faith.

Police cases

A police FIR (First Information Report) was registered against Sharma in Mumbai (Pydhonie Police Station) on the next day. She was accused of "hurting religious sentiments". A second FIR was registered in Thane (a suburb of Mumbai) on 30 May on the same grounds. Another FIR was registered by the AIMIM leader Asaduddin Owaisi in Hyderabad, for using “abusive, false and hurtful” words against Muhammad and the Islam religion. Several other FIRs were registered at other locations in the country.

Sharma's comments were also widely shared internationally on social media. By 4 June, "insult to Prophet Mohammed" was trending among the top 10 hashtags in all the countries of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) and Turkey.

Kanpur violence

Main article: 2022 Kanpur violence

On June 3, hundreds of Muslims protested the remarks in Kanpur after Friday prayers.

Hayat Zafar Hashmi, chief of Maulana Mohammed Ali (MMA) Jauhar Fans Association called for a bandh (shutdown) of local shops in protest of comments from Sharma. They also planned to take out a procession and called to shut down shops at parade market during which they were confronted with the members of Hindu groups as a result of which clashes broke out.

The clashes occurred at Nai Sadak, Yateemkana and Parade area of Kanpur. During the clashes, the groups threw bombs and stones on each other.

Suspension

On June 5, Nupur Sharma published an apology on Twitter but was suspended from the BJP, while Naveen Kumar Jindal was expelled from the party.

Police security was provided to Sharma and her family after she complained about receiving threats and harassment.

International Reaction

Five Arab nations have lodged official protests against India. Pakistan and Afghanistan also reacted strongly to the comments made by the two spokespeople. Kuwait and Iran have also summoned the Indian envoys and gave them protest notes.

Qatar

The Government of Qatar summoned the Indian ambassador and asked for immediate condemnation and an apology for the remarks. The ambassador is reported to have replied that these were the views of "fringe elements" in India and in no way reflect the views of the Government of India.

A Qatari minister said, “Systematic hate speech against Islam in India... will be considered insult by 2 billion Muslims.” Qatar's condemnation came amid the visit of India’s Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu who met Qatari Prime Minister Sheikh Khalid Bin Khalifa Al Thani in Doha on Sunday.

India’s Ambassador to Qatar Deepak Mittal said the comments "do not, in any manner, reflect the views of the Government of India. These are the views of fringe elements," said a spokesperson of the embassy. Mittal was summoned by Qatar's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which said it was "expecting a public apology and immediate condemnation of these remarks from the government of India".

"Allowing such Islamophobic remarks to continue without punishment, constitutes a 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," Qatar said.

Kuwait

Kuwait demanded a "public apology for these hostile statements, the continuation of which would constitute a deterrent measure or punishment to increase extremism and hatred and undermine the elements of moderation". A Kuwaiti supermarket removed Indian made products in protest.

The Indian embassy in Kuwait said in a statement that the Ambassador had a meeting with the foreign office where "concerns were raised with regard to some offensive tweets by individuals in India.

Oman

The Grand Mufti of Oman called the remarks "insolent and obscene rudeness" by the official spokesperson of the BJP and characterized it as war against every Muslim. He called for a boycott of all Indian products and confiscation of all Indian investments in Oman.

Pakistan

Pakistani president Arif Alvi said "such comments were the reflection of a growing trend of Islamophobia in India, which is home to millions of Muslims." Pakistan also issued a démarche to the Indian Charge d' Affaires in Islamabad. A statement issued by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that the Indian diplomat was summoned to convey Pakistan's categorical rejection and strong condemnation of the derogatory remarks. "He was told that these remarks are totally unacceptable and have not only deeply hurt the sentiments of the people of Pakistan but Muslims across the world".

The Pakistan Armed Forces' media wing whilst stating its condemnation added: "The outrageous act is deeply hurtful and clearly indicates extreme level of hate against Muslims and other religions in India".

Afghanistan

On 6 June, the interim Afghan government strongly condemned derogatory words against Muhammad by an official of the Indian ruling party.

The government’s spokesperson, Zabihullah Mujahid, wrote on his Twitter handle: “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan strongly condemns the use of derogatory words against the Prophet of Islam (Peace be upon him) by an official of the ruling party in India.”

He also said: “We urge the Indian government not to allow such fanatics to insult the holy religion of Islam and provoke the feelings of Muslims.

Other countries

The UAE's foreign ministry condemned what it called "the blasphemous remarks made by India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party’s spokesperson that insulted Prophet Muhammad (PBUH)". UAE's decision to join other Muslim-majority countries in condemning the remarks was called "quite significant" by BBC News, given the strength of the India-UAE relations.

The Indonesian Foreign Ministry condemned what it called "unacceptable derogatory remarks" regarding Muhammad.

A member of the Maldives' parliament, Adam Shareef filed for a motion that called on the country's president to condemn the remarks about Muhammad. The motion was defeated with 10 votes in favour and 33 votes against. Later, the Maldives' government expressed "concern" over the remarks, but also welcomed BJP's action taken against the officials.

Egypt's Al-Azhar mosque, one of the leading institutions of learning in the Islamic world, condemned the remarks.

Dutch lawmaker Geert Wilders, came out in support of BJP’s former spokesperson Nupur Sharma. Wilders, in a series of tweets, stated that Nupur Sharma’s statement about Muhammad were a fact and not false allegations.

Indian government response

The Indian government responded to international controversy by stating that the controversial remarks did not reflect government position but rather came from "fringe elements". The BJP removed both Sharma and Jindal and said "strong action has already been taken against those who made the derogatory remarks".

On June 6, the Ministry of External Affairs called out the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC)’s “motivated, misleading, and mischievous” comments on India. MEA official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi while replying to media queries on the General Secretary of OIC’s statement said that the Government of India categorically rejected OIC Secretariat’s comments. The government of India categorically rejects OIC Secretariat’s unwarranted and narrow-minded comments. The Government of India accords the highest respect to all religions. “The offensive tweets and comments denigrating a religious personality were made by certain individuals. They do not, in any manner, reflect the views of the Government of India. Strong action has already been taken against these individuals by relevant bodies”, the statement added. India also responded to Pakistan's criticism by saying Pakistan's remarks were "absurd" given the persecution of minorities in Pakistan.

See also

References

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  4. "India's ruling party suspends official over comments about Islam". CNN. Reuters. 6 June 2022. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
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  6. ^ "Kanpur Violence: At Least 40 Injured, Police Register 3 FIRs Against 500 People". The Wire. Retrieved 7 June 2022.
  7. Naveen Kumar Jindal 🇮🇳 (1 June 2022). "नबी के दुलारो से पूछना चाहता हूँ कि तुम्हारा नबी 53 वर्ष की आयु में 6 वर्ष की छोटी बच्ची आयशा के साथ शादी करता है फिर 56 वर्ष की आयु में 9 वर्ष की आयशा के साथ संबंध बनाता है... क्या वह संबंध बलात्कार की श्रेणी में नहीं आता..?" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 1 June 2022 – via Twitter.
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