The list of countries complaining of insults about Prophet Mohammed made by former BJP spokespersons Nupur Sharma and Naveen Jindal became longer on Monday as India assuaged diplomatic worries by emphasising the country’s respect for all religions. Saudi Arabia and Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued remarks hours after Iran, Qatar, and Kuwait sent official letters and conducted talks with top officials on Sunday.

Oman, Libya, the Maldives, Indonesia, the UAE, Bahrain, Jordan, and Afghanistan were added to the list on Monday. The BJP has suspended Sharma and expelled Jindal, and both leaders have apologised. While the government has emphasised that the statements were made by “fringe elements,” the opposition has increased its attacks on the subject.

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Here are 10 points to note regarding the controversy over the remarks concerning Prophet Mohammed:

1. “The United Arab Emirates has condemned statements by the spokesperson for the Indian Bharatiya Janata Party, expressing its denunciation and rejection of insults of the Prophet Muhammad, peace and blessings be upon him,” an official note said, emphasising the need “to respect religious symbols and not violate them, as well as confront hate speech and violence”.

2. In Oman, Sheikh Khalifa Ali Al Harthy, Foreign Ministry Undersecretary for Diplomatic Affairs, met with Indian Ambassador Amit Narang, who stated that such remarks do not augur well for peaceful coexistence. He did, however, applaud the BJP’s decision to take action against the leaders.

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3. Indonesia, the Muslim world’s most populous country, has also sent a message. “Indonesia strongly condemns unacceptable derogatory remarks against Prophet Muhammad PBUH by two Indian politicians. This message has been conveyed to Indian Ambassador in Jakarta,” the foreign ministry said in a tweet.

4. While the Maldives expressed “deeply concerned by the derogatory remarks made by some officials of BJP,” Jordan likewise criticised the remarks “stronglyin strongest terms.” Bahrain further emphasised “the need to denounce any reprehensible insults against the Prophet Muhammad PBUH, as a provocation to Muslims’ feelings and incitement to religious hatred.” Millions of expats dwell in these nations in search of work. All of these countries have strong trading links with India.

5. Meanwhile, India reacted angrily to Pakistan’s and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation’s pronouncements on Monday.

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6. “The absurdity of a serial violator of minority rights commenting on the treatment of minorities in another nation is not lost on anyone. The world has been witness to the systemic persecution of minorities,” foreign ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said in a statement following the Pakistan prime minister’s tweets.

7. The ministry of external affairs told the Islamic nations’ organisation that it was “regrettable that the OIC Secretariat has yet again chosen to make motivated, misleading and mischievous comments. This only exposes its divisive agenda being pursued at the behest of vested interests.”

8. In another development, Mumbai Police Commissioner Sanjay Pandey announced on Monday that Nupur Sharma has been called in connection with a charge lodged against her for the objectionable comments. After the BJP initiated action against her, she apologised for her words. “The decision to send a notice to her in the case was taken days before she tendered an apology,” an officer explained.

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9. The opposition has slammed the government over the incident. After Telangana minister KT Rama Rao remarked that “the BJP should apologise, not India,” Congress President Rahul Gandhi slammed the government. “Divided internally, India becomes weak externally. BJP’s shameful bigotry has not only isolated us, but also damaged India’s standing globally,” he wrote in a tweet.

10. “India has lost face. The country’s foreign policy was destroyed. The fringe has become mainstream. I demand (Sharma’s) arrest, not just suspension,” stated AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi, according to whom Sharma should have been arrested rather than suspended.