India should stop the "massacre of Muslims" to avoid isolation from the Islamic countries, Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei said on Thursday. The statement came two days after a similar condemnation of the riots in Delhi by Foreign Minister Javad Zarif when he had called upon the Indian government to look after all citizens without discrimination.
"The hearts of Muslims all over the world are grieving over the massacre of Muslims in India. The Government of India should confront extremist Hindus and their parties and stop the massacre of Muslims in order to prevent India's isolation from the world of Islam," said Ayatollah Khamenei in an official statement issued by his office.
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The critical comments from the Supreme Leader coincided with Tuesday's large protest held outside the Embassy of India in Tehran that was organised by several student groups. India summoned the Ambassador of Iran Ali Chegeni on Tuesday and described Mr. Zarif's comments as "selective and tendentious".
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Apart from Mr. Zarif and Mr. Khamenei, Mohammed Baghair Qalibaf, leader of the hardline block that swept the recent parliamentary election in Iran, also condemned the violence in Delhi. Mr. Qalibaf described the killings that took place in the Indian capital between February 24-26 as "heinous and brutal" and called upon the "revolutionary youth" of Iran and other countries to "reach out to the Indian Muslims and break the silence over it".
The Ministry of External Affairs is yet to comment on Mr. Khamenei's remarks.
