India rejects Iran’s remarks on minority issues, look at your own record

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) strongly rejected comments made by Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, where he mentioned India alongside Gaza and Myanmar in regard to minority issues. In a statement, the ministry advised countries to examine their own records on minority issues before commenting on others.

Khamenei’s statement came just hours before India’s response. In a post on X, Khamenei said, “The enemies of Islam have tried to make us indifferent to the identity of the Islamic Ummah. One cannot call themselves a Muslim while ignoring the suffering of Muslims in Myanmar, Gaza, India, or elsewhere.”

MEA calls Khamenei’s comments “Misinformed and Unacceptable”

“We strongly deplore the comments made regarding minorities in India by the Supreme Leader of Iran. These are misinformed and unacceptable. Countries commenting on minorities are advised to look at their own record before making any observations about others,” the MEA said.

Ayatollah Khamenei made his comments during the Islamic Unity Week, addressing leaders from Iran’s Sunni community. He emphasized that Muslims should care for their fellow believers around the world, citing suffering in places like Myanmar, Gaza, and India.

Meanwhile, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian criticized Western countries for supplying weapons to Israel, which he claimed were being used in the war in Gaza. Iran has consistently supported the Palestinian group Hamas, especially after the recent conflict between Israel and Gaza.

According to local health officials, more than 40,000 Palestinians have been killed in the ongoing war, and much of Gaza’s population of 2.3 million has been displaced multiple times.

Pezeshkian, speaking in Baghdad during his first international visit, accused Israel of targeting civilians, including women, children, and the elderly. He also condemned the bombings of hospitals and schools in Gaza.

This exchange between India and Iran comes at a time when both countries are navigating sensitive regional and global issues, particularly with regard to the ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

Khamenei faces domestic pressure over Women’s Rights

Khamenei’s statement came as he faced criticism at home for restricting women’s rights and enforcing the hijab. Earlier in the day, thousands of women in Tehran protested on the second anniversary of Mahsa Amini’s death. Amini, a 22-year-old woman, died after being arrested by Iran’s morality police for not wearing a hijab, sparking widespread protests and becoming a symbol for women’s rights activists.

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