India condemns Ayatollah’s remarks on treatment of minorities

India on Monday condemned Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s remarks on the condition of the Muslim community in India, calling them “misinformed and unacceptable.”

India’s ministry of external affairs (MEA) released a statement asking countries making similar comments to reflect on their own record before criticizing other countries.

“We strongly deplore the comments made regarding minorities in India by the Supreme Leader of Iran,” the MEA statement said, adding: “These are misinformed and unacceptable.”

“Countries commenting on minorities are advised to look at their own record before making any observations about others,” the statement said.

In a social media post on X (earlier known as Twitter), the Ayatollah wrote, “The enemies of Islam have always tried to make us indifferent with regard to our shared identity as an Islamic Ummah. We cannot consider ourselves to be Muslims if we are oblivious to the suffering that a Muslim is enduring in #Myanmar, #Gaza, #India, or any other place.”

The enemies of Islam have always tried to make us indifferent with regard to our shared identity as an Islamic Ummah. We cannot consider ourselves to be Muslims if we are oblivious to the suffering that a Muslim is enduring in #Myanmar, #Gaza, #India, or any other place.

— Khamenei.ir (@khamenei_ir) September 16, 2024

Khamenei said, “The concept of an ‘Islamic Ummah’ must never be forgotten. Protecting the identity of the ‘Islamic Ummah’ is essential. It is a fundamental issue that transcends nationality, and geographical borders don’t change the reality & identity of the Islamic Ummah.”

The word ‘Ummah’ is Arabic for ‘nation’ or ‘community’, and refers to the Muslim identity.

Khamenei made the remarks during a meeting with Iranian scholars on Monday, marking the beginning of Islamic Unity Week, which coincides with the birth anniversary of Prophet Muhammad.