Bloody Demonstrations In India After Nationalist-Hindu Politicians Insult Prophet Muhammad, Leaders Of Islamic Groups Call For This

JAKARTA - Leaders of Islamist groups and mosques in India have asked the country's Muslims to postpone plans to protest against insults to the Prophet Muhammad by two members of the ruling Hindu-nationalist party.

The call to avoid gatherings with large numbers of people was issued after violent demonstrations took place last week. The demonstrations resulted in the death of two Muslim teenagers and the wounding of more than 30 people, including police officers.

"It is the duty of all Muslims to unite when anyone insults Islam, but at the same time it is very important to maintain peace," said Malik Aslam, a senior member of Jamaat-e-Islami Hind, a Muslim organization operating in several Indian states. from Reuters via Antara, Monday, June 13.

Earlier this month, two members of the Bharatiya Janata party (BJP), Prime Minister Narendra Modi's party, made remarks that offended Muslims.

A female spokeswoman for the party made the offensive comment during a televised debate and another male spokeswoman made the offensive comment via social media.

The BJP later suspended both and said they condemned any form of insult to any religion. Police have also filed cases against the two, but that hasn't stopped angry Muslims from protesting in the streets.

Police have arrested at least 400 suspected rioters during demonstrations in several states and curfew restrictions have been imposed along with the shutdown of internet services in some places.

Many Muslims in India have questioned their position in society since Modi took office in 2014, playing down his origins within the powerful Hindu-nationalist group to which his party is linked.

Critics say the BJP has resorted to confrontation, promoting the idea that India is a Hindu nation and attacking "anti-national" opponents, seen by many Muslims as an attempt to marginalize them, a community that makes up 13 percent of India's population of billions. .

Authorities in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh on Sunday demolished the home of a Muslim man connected to the riots. This resulted in condemnation of the state government, led by the BJP, from constitutional experts and human rights groups.

Muslim and human rights groups interpreted the demolition of the house as punishment for the rioting but state authorities said it was because the house was illegally built on public land.

"We're not destroying houses to stop Muslims from protesting because they have the right to protest in the streets," a state executive told Reuters.

Modi has not commented on the anti-Islam comments that sparked protests even as condemnation poured in from other countries around the world. Other countries including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Oman and Iran, which are important trading partners for India, have lodged diplomatic protests.