India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Monday strongly condemned comments made by Iran’s Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, concerning the treatment of Muslims in India. The ministry described Khamenei’s remarks as “misinformed and unacceptable,” asserting that such statements show a lack of understanding of the situation in the country.
In a sharply worded response, MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal rejected the Iranian leader’s comments, emphasizing the need for nations to focus on their own human rights records before passing judgment on others. “We strongly deplore the comments made regarding minorities in India by the Supreme Leader of Iran. These are misinformed and unacceptable,” said the spokesperson.
While the MEA did not explicitly name Iran in its statement, it made clear its stance on countries commenting on India’s internal matters. “Countries commenting on minorities are advised to look at their own record before making any observations about others,” the statement added, underscoring the Indian government’s disapproval of foreign commentary on its domestic issues.
Earlier, in a message shared on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on the occasion of Prophet Mohammed’s birth anniversary, Khamenei highlighted the “suffering” of Muslims in Gaza, Myanmar, and India. His comments were made in the context of promoting global Muslim solidarity, though no specific incidents in India were mentioned.
“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,” Khamenei said in his post, calling on the Muslim world to recognize its shared identity and stand against perceived injustices.
India, home to the world’s third-largest Muslim population, has consistently pushed back against foreign criticism of its domestic religious policies, particularly regarding its treatment of minorities. The MEA’s response highlights India’s sensitivity to international scrutiny and reflects its broader diplomatic approach of urging other nations to refrain from commenting on internal affairs.
