UN on India Prophet row: 'Respect and tolerance for all religions'

UNITED NATIONS: The spokesperson for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres stated that "we strongly encourage respect and tolerance for all religions." This statement comes in the midst of Muslim nations raising objections against the BJP spokesperson's remarks that insulted the Prophet Mohammed.

The spokesperson was responding to a question from a Pakistani journalist about the condemnation of remarks made by former BJP national spokesperson Nupur Sharma and Delhi media chief Naveen Kumar Jindal against the Prophet.

"I've seen stories. I haven't seen the remarks themselves, but I mean, regardless, I can tell you that we strongly encourage respect and tolerance for all religions," Stephane Dujarric, Spokesman for the Secretary-General, said on Monday at the daily press briefing, according to the New Indian Express.

On Sunday, the Sharma and Jindal were suspended by the party for their remarks amid widespread protest from several Muslim countries.

The BJP had issued a statement saying that it respects all religions and strongly condemns the desecration of any religious personality, amid strong protests from Muslim groups and countries such as Kuwait, Qatar and Iran.

In an effort to defuse the diplomatic problem, on Sunday, the spokespersons of the Indian Embassy in Qatar and Kuwait said that their Ambassadors have "conveyed that the tweets do not, in any manner, reflect the views of the Government of India. These are the views of fringe elements."

Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Jordan, Bahrain, Afghanistan and the Maldives, along with several Muslim countries on Monday condemned the BJP leaders' controversial remarks against the Prophet Muhammad.