Indian Embassy in Portugal flags ‘unwarranted targeting’ of Indian community after Odivelas Gurudwara altercation

In a statement, the embassy said it had been informed of an instance of targeted vilification and discrimination against people of Indian origin that resulted in the altercation at the Sikh place of worship.

The mission emphasised India’s longstanding tradition of tolerance and respect for diverse faiths and viewpoints, noting that different religious and cultural communities have coexisted peacefully throughout the country’s history.

It also highlighted the contribution of the Indian diaspora to the development of host countries and their role in enriching local cultures. The global Indian diaspora comprises more than 35 million people, according to the statement.

“Incidents of unwarranted targeting of Indian places of worship and people of Indian origin are thus a matter of concern,” the embassy said.

The mission thanked Portuguese authorities for their support and called for continued cooperation to safeguard the Indian community’s safety, security and dignity.

It also stressed the need to prevent discrimination against people of Indian origin in any form.

According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Portugal is home to more than 25,000 Indian nationals and around 9,500 Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) and Person of Indian Origin (PIO) card holders.

The Indian-origin community is concentrated mainly in the Lisbon metropolitan area, the Algarve region in southern Portugal and Porto in the north.

The embassy’s statement comes amid concerns over the reported incident at the Odivelas Gurudwara and the treatment of members of the Indian community in Portugal.