India Faces Scrutiny as Iranian Leader Highlights Plight of Muslims

Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has triggered a diplomatic dispute with India by criticizing the treatment of Muslims in the country. 

On the occasion of Eid Milad-un-Nabi, Khamenei took to X (formerly Twitter) to express his views. The post stated, “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.” 

He emphasized that Muslims globally should not ignore these issues, implying a collective responsibility among Muslims to address them. 

India's reaction was swift and stern. The Ministry of External Affairs denounced Khamenei’s statements as "misinformed and unacceptable” asserting that those who comment on the human rights issues of other countries should first reflect on their own records. 

India and Iran have generally maintained strong bilateral relations, highlighted by recent agreements such as a 10-year contract to develop the Chabahar port. Despite this economic cooperation, political and human rights differences continue to strain their relationship. 

In this episode, Khamenei’s critique highlights a recurring theme in Iranian foreign policy, the emphasis on defending Muslim communities globally. 

India’s 200 million Muslims have faced discrimination, economic exclusion, mob lynchings, and sectarian violence under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s right-wing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), according to human rights groups. An August report by Human Rights Watch revealed that Modi made Islamophobic remarks in over 110 speeches during his campaign for a rare third term in office. 

Historically, Khamenei has been critical of India's handling of its Muslim minority, particularly in the context of Kashmir and the broader treatment of Muslims under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government. 

In March 2020, Khamenei condemned the religious violence in New Delhi that resulted in the deaths of 53 people, predominantly Muslims. He described the incident as a “massacre of Muslims” and urged India to address the actions of “extremist Hindus and their parties” to avoid becoming “isolated from the world of Islam.”