Saturday, February 19 2005 11:25 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Mumbai: The All India Ulema Council yesterday (Feb 18, 2005) condemned controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen's plea for Indian citizenship.

"I appeal to the Central Government to turn down the application of Taslima Nasreen as she has hurt the sentiments of Muslims not only in India but all over the world," Mehmood Daryabadi, General Secretary of the council, said in a statement.

He further said that he was confident that the Union Government would consider the sentiments of the Muslim community before taking any decision on giving citizenship to Nasreeen.

Nasreen had upset Muslims by writing alleged derogatory statements about the Prophet and his wives, the statement said.

The council in a letter written to Union Home Minister Shivraj Patil has warned against any such step and also informed him that considering her application will lower India's image in the world.