South Asia protests over anti-Muslim remarks

Thousands of Muslims have rallied across the South Asia nations of India, Bangladesh and Pakistan over derogatory remarks on Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) by two officials from India's ruling party that has triggered a diplomatic backlash against New Delhi.

Protests were reported from various Indian cities, including capital New Delhi, yesterday as Muslims marched after the afternoon congregation prayers, raising slogans against the government and calling for the arrest of the members belonging to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

Several parts of Indian-administered Kashmir observed a spontaneous shutdown to protest the derogatory remarks. Protests after the Friday prayers were also reported from several districts in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh.

In Bangladesh, thousands of people protested outside Dhaka's main mosque, Baitul Mukarram, after the Friday prayers, chanting slogans such as "Boycott Indian products".

In Pakistan, a radical religious party known for frequently paralysing the country with its anti-blasphemy rallies held a march in its stronghold of Lahore after Friday prayers, reports Al Jazeera Online.

And in Indonesia, the world's largest Muslim-majority country, about 50 protesters staged a rally in front of the Indian embassy in Jakarta.

"The Indian government must apologise to Muslims and they must take strict action against the politicians who made the remarks," a protest coordinator told AFP.