Indian expatriates living in Kuwait who participated
in a demonstration against Nupur Sharma’s remarks on Prophet Mohammad will be
deported, news agency ANI reported quoting local media. The Kuwait government’s
decision comes as an immense surprise since Kuwait had itself condemned Sharma’s
statements on the Prophet in very strong terms. Indian expats are being
deported because by participating in a demonstration they violated the rules of
the country.

Kuwait authorities are in the process of “arresting
expats and referring them to the deportation centre to be deported to their
countries,” according to Arab Times. Those being removed will be outlawed from entering
Kuwait again, the report said. The nationality of people being deported is not
mentioned in the report. Kuwait does not allow non-citizens to organise
demonstrations.

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Several people, including Indians, protested against
then-BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma’s remarks on the Prophet Mohammed in course
of a television debate. People in some Gulf nations called for removing Indian
products from supermarket shelves. Indian envoys in Gulf nations were summoned and
Sharma’s comments condemned in unequivocal terms.

The Indian government said Sharma’s comments did not
reflect the opinion of the government. It said that Sharma, a national spokesperson
of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), represented “fringe elements”. The
BJP subsequently suspended Sharma while she withdrew her remarks.

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India had earlier told Kuwait that strong action had
been taken against people who tried to hurt sentiments of minorities. “The
Ambassador conveyed that the tweets do not, in any manner, reflect the views of
the Government of India. These are the views of fringe elements. In line with
our civilisational heritage and strong cultural traditions of unity in
diversity, the Government of India accords highest respect to all religions.”

Meanwhile in India, protests have broken out across
several cities as Indian Muslims took to the streets condemning Sharma’s
comments on the Prophet.