South Asia protests over prophet remarks by India s ruling party officials
Thousands of Muslims have rallied across the South Asia countries of India_ Bangladesh and Pakistan over derogatory remarks on Prophet Muhammad by two officials from India s ruling party that has triggered a diplomatic backlash against India.
Protests were reported from various Indian cities_ including capital New Delhi_ on Friday as Muslims marched after the afternoon congregation prayers_ raising slogans against the Narendra Modi s government and calling for the arrest of the members belonging to Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
Anger has been growing in India and Muslim- majority countries across the world since last week_ when BJP's spokesperson Nupur Sharma and Delhi media cell head Naveen Kumar Jindal made comments seen as insulting Islam s prophet Muhammad and his wife Aisha.
The BJP suspended Nupur Sharma and expelled Jindal_ saying it denounces insults of religious figures. The right- wing party also asked its spokespersons to be 'extremely cautious' on religious matters in primetime 'debates' on Indian news channels.
India s Muslims_ who are facing a sharp rise in Islamophobia and attacks on them since Narendra Modi came to power in 2014_ say those actions aren't enough.
Several parts of Indian- administered Kashmir_ the country s only Muslim- majority region_ on Friday observed a spontaneous shutdown to protest the derogatory remarks by the 2 BJP officials leaders against Prophet Muhammad.
Authorities in the disputed region suspended mobile internet services and deployed more security forces in some areas as precautionary measures to quell protests.
.png "Advertisement")
