UAE, Indonesia, Maldives join condemnation of Prophet Muhammad's remarks

The United Arab Emirates Foreign Ministry condemned statements by the spokesperson of the Bharatiya Janata Party, expressing its denunciation and rejection of insults of the Prophet Muhammad.

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation (MoFAIC) affirmed the “UAE's firm rejection of all practices and behaviours that contradict moral and human values and principles.”

The ministry underscored the need to respect religious symbols and not violate them, as well as confront hate speech and violence.

“The Ministry also noted the importance of strengthening the shared international responsibility to spread the values of tolerance and human coexistence while preventing any practices that would inflame the sentiment of followers of different religions,” it said.

Indonesia's Foreign Affairs Ministry in a statement said it had conveyed its strong objections to the statements made by the two BJP functionaries -- Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal -- to the Indian Ambassador.

Indonesia said it “strongly condemns unacceptable derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad by two Indian politicians. This message has been conveyed to the Indian Ambassador in Jakarta.”

The Government of Maldives in a statement said that it unreservedly condemns all and any action that attempts to demean the Prophet Muhammad and Islam.

The Ministry of External Affairs has in a statement said the offensive tweets and comments did not, in any way, reflect the views of the government.

Additionally, the statement said that the Government of Maldives also welcomed the denouncement by the Indian government of the derogatory remarks by the concerned officials and the prompt action taken by the BJP against those officials.

The BJP had already suspended its spokespersons, Nupur Sharma and Naveen Kumar Jindal, over their comments on the Prophet Muhammad that also triggered massive violence in Uttar Pradesh, saying it "strongly denounces insult of any religious personalities".

"During the thousands of years of the history of India, every religion has blossomed and flourished. The Bharatiya Janata Party respects all religions. The BJP strongly denounces insult of any religious personalities of any religion," it said in a statement on Sunday.

"The Bharatiya Janata Party is also strongly against any ideology which insults or demeans any sect or religion. The BJP does not promote such people or philosophy," it had said.

"India's Constitution gives the right to every citizen to practise any religion of his/her choice and to honour and respect every religion," the party had said.
Many Islamic Countries and organizations have been condemning and taking action over the comments by the two Indian officials.

India’s ambassadors to Kuwait, Qatar and Iran were summoned on Sunday to receive official notes of protest over the comments.

The list of Middle Eastern countries issuing condemnations includes Jordan, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Iran and Qatar and also the six-member Gulf Cooperation Council.

Pakistan, the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan and the OIC have also condemned the remarks.