Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries and Muslim institutions on Sunday condemned the remarks against Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) by a top official in India’s ruling party, with some demanding con rete action to end such acts of Islamophobia.

The remarks by spokesperson for Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party last week were blamed for clashes in an Indian state and prompted demands for her arrest, with anger spreading overseas to Muslim countries. Nupur Sharma made the inflammatory remarks during a TV debate about the Prophet Muhammad.

Riyadh described the spokeperson’s comments as “insulting” and called for “respect for beliefs and religions.”

In denouncing Sharma's remarks, the Saudi Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it "reaffirms its permanent rejection of prejudice against the symbols of the Islamic religion and refuses to prejudice all religious figures and symbols."

The ministry also welcomed the action taken by the BJP to suspend the spokeswoman from work.

ArabNews