SRINAGAR: In a sharp diplomatic exchange, India has strongly condemned recent comments by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Sayyid Ali Hosseini Khamenei, in which he grouped India alongside Gaza and Myanmar as places where Muslims are suffering. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) responded swiftly, calling the remarks “misinformed” and “unacceptable,” and advising Iran to reflect on its own treatment of minorities before making observations about other nations.
Khamenei’s statement was shared in a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Monday, marking the birth anniversary of Prophet Mohammed. “The enemies of Islam have always tried to make us indifferent with regard to our shared identity as an Islamic Ummah,” the post read. “We cannot consider ourselves to be Muslims if we are oblivious to the suffering that a Muslim is enduring in #Myanmar, #Gaza, #India, or any other place.”
The comments by Iran’s top leader drew a strong reaction from the Indian government, which issued a detailed statement.
“We strongly deplore the comments made regarding minorities in India by the Supreme Leader of Iran,” the statement read. “These are misinformed and unacceptable. Countries commenting on minorities are advised to look at their own record before making any observations about others.”
This is not the first instance where Khamenei has commented on the situation of Muslims in India. His most recent comments are part of a longstanding narrative from Iran’s spiritual leader regarding the treatment of Indian Muslims.
In March 2020, following the northeast Delhi riots, Khamenei referred to the violence as a “massacre of Muslims” and urged India to confront what he described as “extremist Hindus and their parties.” He further warned that failing to address the issue could lead to India’s “isolation from the world of Islam.”
His earlier remarks on India date back to critical moments such as the revocation of Article 370 in Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019. At the time, Khamenei had expressed concern over the condition of Muslims in the region and called for a “just policy” from the Indian government. India had similarly rejected his comments, citing their bilateral relationship but maintaining that issues regarding its internal policies were not open to external interference.
Khamenei has also been vocal about other key historical events, including the 2002 Gujarat riots and the 1992 Babri Masjid demolition. Over the years, his criticism of India has been tied to broader geopolitical concerns, including tensions between Iran and other global powers, particularly the United States.
