Tuesday 3 March 2020 - 15:00
Story Code : 371554
India summons Iran envoy over FM Zarifs tweet against anti-Muslim violence
Indian media cited unnamed official sources as saying that Ambassador Ali Chegini had been summoned on Tuesday morning after Zarif denounced the wave of organized violence against Indian Muslims and called for dialog as the best solution to the problem plaguing the South Asian country.
In his tweet late on Monday, Zarif urged Indian authorities to ensure the well-being of ALL Indians & not let senseless thuggery prevail, adding that the path forward lies in peaceful dialogue and rule of law.
The Indian sources said a strong protest was lodged over the comments made by Javad Zarif on a matter internal to India.
The Indian Foreign Ministry issued a démarche to the Iranian ambassador, claiming that the remarks by Zarif were totally uncalled for and unacceptable,according to a person familiar with the development.
Anti-Muslim violence began in India amid widespread protests over a citizenship law that Prime Minister Narendra Modis Hindu nationalist government introduced in December 2019, offering a path to Indian citizenship for six religious groups from neighboring countries, specifically excluding Muslims.
Critics insist the law is discriminatory, coming in the wake of other severe government measures against the countrys Muslim population such as withdrawal of autonomy for Muslim-majority Jammu and Kashmir province that has intensified discord across India about the future of its 200 million Muslims.
Over 40 people were killed by Hindu mobs this week, with hundreds more reported injured amid news accounts of largely useless police intervention to end the violence and meager international criticism of New Delhis failure to protect its minority Muslim population.
According to the UK-based Independent newspaper, Hindu nationalist mobs roamed the streets of New Delhi on February 23, burning and looting mosques together with Muslim homes, shops and businesses.
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