Muslim cleric arrested for calling for beheading of sacked ruling party spokesperson in India
Shrine officials from Ajmer dargah have condemned cleric and distanced themselves from video
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.A Muslim cleric from Rajasthan in northern India has been arrested after he allegedly offered his house to anyone who would behead Nupur Sharma, the spokesperson of the ruling right-wing Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), who made derogatory remarks about Prophet Muhammad.
Police said that they had been looking for Salman Chishti, a cleric from Ajmer Dargah, or shrine, in Rajasthan since Monday night. They had filed a case against him after a video of him was circulated on social media.
Police allege that he was heard saying on video that he would have shot the former BJP spokesperson for insulting the prophet. “You have to give a reply to all Muslim countries. I am saying this from Ajmer, Rajasthan, and this message is from Huzur Khwaja Baba ka Darbar,” he allegedly said.
However, the Ajmer Dargah, or shrine, has distanced itself from the cleric and condemned the video. The Muslim shrine’s officials said it was a place of communal harmony.
Meanwhile, some local news reports have also raised doubts about the veracity of the video.
Ms Sharma’s comments had put the country at the centre of a diplomatic storm after more than a dozen west Asian countries issued statements of condemnation, leading to her suspension from the BJP.
There have also been protests in different parts of India, neighbouring Pakistan and Bangladesh against Ms Sharma’s statements, demanding action against her.
Violent clashes were reported in Uttar Pradesh’s Kanpur city, which left several people, including police officers injured.
On 28 June, a Hindu tailor was brutally beheaded in Rajasthan’s Udaipur city by two cleaver-wielding Muslim men in a religious killing that sparked communal tension in surrounding areas. The victim had allegedly shared a social media post supporting Ms Sharma.
Ms Sharma had made the derogatory comments about the prophet and his wife while appearing in a debate over the contentious issue of the 17th century Gyanvapi Mosque. that Hindu nationalist organisations allege was built following the destruction of a temple dedicated to Hindu deity Shiva.
She is a familiar face on Indian television news debate shows, known to host debates on inflammatory topics.
To control the fallout, BJP suspended Ms Sharma but stopped short of apologising, only saying that the party “strongly denounces insults of any religious personalities”.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments