Iran, India agree on need to respect religions, Islamic sanctities
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In light of recent tensions witnessed in India over anti-Muslim comments, Iran's FM says Tehran and New Delhi are determined to bring relations to new heights.
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Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian
Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian hailed on Wednesday his visit to India, indicating that Iran and India agree on the need to respect Islamic sanctities and avoid divisive remarks.
Amir-Abdollahian arrived in India's capital, New Delhi, on Wednesday on an official visit.
He praised on Wednesday night his talks with top Indian officials, stressing that the two countries are “determined to bring relations to new heights.”
“Pleased to meet PM Modi, FM Jaishankar & other Indian officials to advance our bilateral strategic dialogue. Tehran & New Delhi agree on the need to respect divine religions & Islamic sanctities & to avoid divisive statements,” Amir-Abdollahian tweeted.
Pleased to meet PM Modi, FM Jaishankar & other Indian officials to advance our bilateral strategic dialogue.
— H.Amirabdollahian امیرعبداللهیان (@Amirabdolahian) June 8, 2022
Tehran & New Delhi agree on the need to respect divine religions & Islamic sanctities & to avoid divisive statements.
🇮🇷🇮🇳 determined to bring relations to new heights.
During his meeting with the Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar, Amir-Abdollahian stressed the necessity of setting up a roadmap for cooperation between Tehran and New Delhi, adding that this move would help build and protect long-term relations.
Tensions witnessed in India
The top Iranian diplomat's visit comes amid tensions witnessed in parts of India after Islamophobic and derogatory comments were made against Prophet Mohammad by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party BJP spokeswoman Nupur Sharma during a television debate.
Among other governments, the Iranian government denounced the remarks as "insulting".
Sharma, commenting about Muslim worship and the Prophet, made insulting comments in a debate with a Muslim opponent on television 10 days ago. After the comments were met with anger, Jindal added to the insults about the prophet, which caused further outrage.
The BJP announced that Sharma has been suspended from the party, while another spokesperson, Naveen Kumar Jindal, was expelled over the anti-Muslim comments he made on social media.
Nevertheless, several Indian towns and states have seen widespread and organized campaigns of persecution against the Muslim minority in recent months, backed by radical Hindus' violence.
The decision to prohibit the wearing of headscarves in schools and educational institutions, as well as the demolition of Muslim property, have all drawn widespread outrage.
