Al-Azhar Grand Imam Ahmed El-Tayyeb
The statement against Prophet Muhammad and his wife Aisha are insolent and disrespectful, Al-Azhar said in a statement issued on Sunday in English, without naming the Indian official.
Over the past few days, two Indian party leaders have made derogatory statement against the Prophet, drawing ire among the Asian country's minority Muslim community and Muslims around the world.
Nupur Sharma, who was an official spokesperson of the BJP, made her remark on a TV debate on 27 May, while Naveen Jindal, who was media head of the party's Delhi unit, wrote a tweet on Wednesday.
Al-Azhar said the statements reveal "blatant ignorance of the history and the biography of the prophets, who represent the highest pinnacles of morality, virtue and ethics, and who were protected by Allah Almighty from falling into vice or committing what pure souls reject."
Al-Azhar affirmed that such behavior is terrorism, which can plunge the entire world into severe crises and deadly wars, calling on the international community to confront the dangers of "such reckless abusers" with firmness, determination and strength.
Some political officials, the statement noted, have recently resorted to insulting Islam and the Prophet to win voters’ support in party elections, and inflame the feelings of their followers against Muslims.
Al-Azhar described this approach as an explicit call to extremism, hatred and sedition among followers of different religions and beliefs.
Al-Azhar reiterated that the civilized world today has to take a rigid stance against those who abuse religions and supreme human values for political gains, the statement added.
The BJP announced on Sunday the suspension of Sharma in response to her comments, and also expelled Jindal from the party due to his tweet, reported Reuters.
In a statement, the Indian ruling party expressed its respect to all religions, saying it "strongly denounces insult of any religious personalities of any religion."
Later on, Sharma apologised for her comment, while Jindal deleted his tweet.
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