The World’s Worst Religious Persecutors – OpEd

March 20, 2012 by afghanhindu

By Nina Shea

Source, Eurasia Review

Today, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (Uscirf) released its 14th annual report, which it is mandated to do under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. The report identifies the world’s worst persecutors and makes foreign-policy recommendations, which are non-binding, to the administration and Congress. Its decisions are based on the agency’s visits to foreign countries, and a wide array of other sources, including the State Department’ s own excellent annual compilation of worldwide religious-freedom violations. The commission is distinctive because it is an independent federal agency, and it is to make its name-and-shame lists and policy recommendations unburdened by foreign-policy considerations other than the defense of religious freedom.

I believe that Afghanistan, too, belongs in the ranks of the world’s worst religious persecutors. Apart from the depredations of the Taliban, Afghanistan’ s government under President Karzai fails to respect religious freedom, and its violations are egregious, ongoing, and systematic, thus meeting the statutory standard for CPC designation. The State Department’s recent religious-freedom report on Afghanistan found:

- The government’s level of respect for religious freedom in law and in practice declined during the reporting period, particularly for Christian groups and individuals.

An example was the razing of that country’ s last remaining church after its 99-year lease was cancelled, as the State Department reported last September. This event did not draw the international protest that accompanied the Taliban’ s detonation of the Bamiyan Buddhist statues in 2001, but, with respect to the status of religious freedom, it is equally emblematic.

Afghanistan, therefore, has now joined the lonely company of hardline Saudi Arabia as a country with no churches. The millions of Christians in Afghanistan, including some very beleaguered and oft-jailed converts, must hide their faith and seek the protection and secrecy of walled embassy compounds to pray in community.

Furthermore, we learn from the State Department report that, in addition to Christians, particular “targets of discrimination and persecution” are Hindu and Sikh groups.

The one synagogue, located in Kabul, is shuttered because Jews dare not venture there.

The Uscirf report itself states:

- Conditions for religious freedom are exceedingly poor for dissenting members of the majority faith and for minority religious communities. The Afghan constitution fails explicitly to protect the individual right to freedom of religion or belief and allows other fundamental rights to be superseded by ordinary legislation. It also contains a repugnancy clause stating that no law can be contrary to the tenets of Islam, which the government has interpreted to limit fundamental freedoms.

Individuals who dissent from the prevailing orthodoxy regarding Islamic beliefs and practices are subject to legal action that violates international standards, for example prosecutions for religious crimes such as apostasy and blasphemy. In addition, the Afghan government remains unable, as well as at times unwilling, to protect citizens against violence and intimidation by the Taliban and other illegal armed groups.

The Afghan government’s slide into extreme intolerance accelerated this month when, at the behest of his senior Islamic advisers, President Karzai publicly backed their statement that women should not mingle with men in workplaces, schools or other areas of daily life, and should not travel without a male relative, according to a March 6 BBC report.

For anyone concerned about human rights and religious freedom, the Uscirf report is unsettling but important reading.

http://www.afghanhindu.info/

Petition to the House of Commons UK

To The House of Commons London SW1A 0AA

The Humble Petition of the Kesri Lehar Working Committee

Declares that we make this petition on behalf of the undersigned, to petition Parliament to hold a debate on ongoing and, disturbing atrocities that are being committed in the Republic of India, that, infringe the basic human rights of the minority communities, this includes but is not limited to the Sikhs, Christians, Muslims and Dalits (India‟s untouchables)

Although some of the issues have been addressed by the UK Parliament in the recent past, and raised with the Indian government, especially on the issue of the death sentence, little or no action has been taken by India.

This is evident from the recent revival of the Indian government agencies‟ acts of applying to the Indian judiciary, to upgrade the already sentenced Sikh prisoners, be sentenced to death by hanging. In contrast, non Sikh prisoners who have been sentenced to similar terms of imprisonment have been pardoned and released prematurely.

The contrast in the manner that the Indian government and its agencies‟ act clearly shows the discrimination towards different classes, and, races in India. This has enraged not only the diaspora that live here in the United Kingdom but also the wider community as a whole.

In the recent weeks, the Sikhs in Punjab, have been brutally beaten (“lathi charged”) and tortured when they stood out to be heard at street protests, where there have been at least 3 recorded shootings by the police, of unarmed Sikh teenagers who have been peacefully protesting against the government. While in contrast, the “Shiv Sena Group”, which is an anti-minority, fascist, pro Hindu group, has been allowed, and in many situations, provided security protection by the paramilitary and police forces, while making anti minority speeches and threats against the minority community. These again, clearly depict the discrimination against the minorities by the government of India.

Additionally, whilst news footage was originally shown here of the peaceful protests in Punjab, and the heavy handed reaction of the Indian Police and paramilitary forces, this was subsequently stopped and the incidents were no longer reported.

The most disturbing issue is the wide spread increase in custodial rapes in India, and the gang rape of girls and women, throughout India by the police, paramilitary and military forces. The recent rape of Christian girls and women in North East India by the police and its paramilitary forces, with no action against the rapists, has again confirmed the government‟s discriminatory action against minority races.

The petitioner(s) therefore request(s) that the House of Commons hold a debate in parliament on the issues raised above and subsequently bring them to light in the European Union and United Nations. Further, we request that the United Kingdom urge India to take immediate action to stop the Human Rights abuses facing minorities in India. Additionally we request that the UK together with the UN and EU request India to sign the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court and the UN charter against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment which encompasses the „death penalty‟ and thus have the death penalty abolished in India as it is now a Cruel, Inhumane and Degrading form of punishment in today‟s day and age. Moreover we urge you to appeal to India to stop Balwant Singh Rajoana‟s death sentence and that he be released from jail as he has served many years in custody. We further urge you to appeal to India to release all prisoners facing the same situation and those who have been imprisoned without a trial.

I think this text could be used as a template in other countries with Sikh populations for petitions in their local languages to their parliaments

Harjinder Singh
Man in Blue

391.Is my Sister equal to me ?

My answer to this question, whether I look at it from my Dutch or my Sikh perspective, is a resounding YES ! From a sub-continental point of view the question is more challenging. The two main religions or dharms on the sub-continent have a rich tradition of treating women as second class, as creatures to be ruled by men.

Sikhí is firmly based on the unity of mankind, but I have seen inequality being practised by Sikhs in Panjab and to a lesser degree here in the UK. I also find that English society is less equal in many respects than what I am used to in the Netherlands. This does not mean that they get everything right in my country of origin !

Guru’s teachings are wonderful. It is obvious from Gurbaní that Guru sees all creation, all creatures as coming from God, and that therefore we should respect all creation. Judging by Gurbaní Sikhs are way ahead of Panjabi, western, Hindu or Ibrahimic ‘teachings’.

The other day I went to two interfaith meetings. At the first meeting I met a female Anglican priest, who was treated by her two male colleagues as an absolute equal. That same day in another meeting I met a female vicar of the United Reformed Church. Both ladies were better educated than the majority of our granthis and were very comfortable in the company of people of other faiths.

A few years ago I attended a meeting regarding the Muslim school in Slough. The committee that was to decide on the school could not come to a decision and the case for a Muslim school was brought before an adjudicator.

The hall was full, partly with the Muslim variety of our greybeards, but there was a good presence of young Muslim women, many of them in hijáb. The men did what South Asian men are good at, they disagreed and launched personal attacks on each other.

The young Muslim women spoke good English, and formulated their contributions well. If it had not been for them the case of the Slough Islamic School might have been lost.

I am not saying that all Muslims and Christians are right and all Sikhs are wrong. In Sikhí we are on firm ground when we speak out for ‘One God, One Humanity’. But I am disappointed when I see that we are overtaken by Christians, Jews and Muslims when it comes to practising equality.

Please let us concentrate on getting our own house in order and let us practice equality between men and women, between all !