India has reacted sharply to the recent comments from Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei on the minority issues and the alleged persecution of Muslim minorities in India, prompting the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) saying “Look who is talking.”
In a tweet on September 12, 2024 Khamenei said that it is wrong for the world to remain silent on the issue of Muslim oppression in India.” His statement came at a time the world was discussing Islamaphobia and freedom of religion.
India immediately refuted such allegations, also stating irony regarding Khamenei’s proclamation, bearing in mind Iran’s history of violating human rights and discriminating against minorities – Baha’is, Kurds, and the members of the LGBTQ community. Iran has been often accused of implementing a rather harsh Islamic legal system, limiting the individual rights, and censorship of the opposition voice.
The Indian MEA was indignant and outlined that India is a secular democracy that has never violated the rights of minorities, responding to Khamenei harshly and noting that Iran should concern itself with internal affairs.
Regarding the speech given by Khamenei, it is also important to note that he made his comments at a time when Iran is also under heavy criticism for its human rights abuses and suppression of protests and dissidents.
The diplomatic exchange depicts the existing bitter relations between India and Iran despite the both possessing good business and security relations such as, energy and regional security domains. India’s response shows how it reacts to outside interference in its domestic affairs focusing on the religious issues.
India has reacted strongly to a recent statement of the Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei who voiced displeasure at the plight of Muslims in India. In a tweet on the 12th of September 2024, Khamenei complained on social media about the suppression of Muslims in India calling on the international community to take action on the same. His comments triggered diplomatic incident and Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) was quick to respond saying “Look who is talking”.
India was portrayed as secular democracy was insistent on the respect for the rights of the minority. Youth has been oppressed and minorities, including Baha’is and Kurds, merely suppressed, besides which, the contrary is true, Iran needs to improve its human rights record. Iran has been under questioned for the continuing crackdown on civil liberties, suppression of opposition activists, abuse of women protesters and other civil liberties’ infringement contravening Islamic laws.
The Indian government conveyed to this effect that Khamenei’s statement were rather unwelcome since Iran too has its troubles at home. India’s constitution was also noted to protect equality and individual liberty irrespective of the religion as well as the country’s long history of religious and ethnic tolerance.
This exchange increases the stress in the relations of India-Iran while both countries operate in common grounds over and over again, for instance, trade, energy and security. Nevertheless, Indian government is extremely touchy about external influences in the matters concerning its internal politics, particularly related to religion and treatment of Muslims in the country.
These comments by Khamenei have attracted criticism on social media with many people arguing that it was hypocrisy for Iran to at and criticize a country with a bad human record. The diplomatic tensions illustrate how both the countries should tread especially when dealing with such issues.
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