The story: Gulf Arab states and Iran have denounced India’s ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the public disparaging of Prophet Muhammad by two of its officials. In response, the BJP has suspended party spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled its Delhi media chief Naveen Kumar Jindal. The diplomatic row comes as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi has labored to improve relations with Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) member states.

The coverage: In a May 26 televised debate, Sharma stated, “They [Muslims] should be told to shut up and stop insulting our [Hindu] religion.” She continued, “Claims made in the Quran about your flying horses…that the earth is flat…should I make fun of it?” However, what has garnered most attention was her assertion that Prophet Muhammad married and tarnished his wife Aisha while she was a child...