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2004
Achievements
Government
Eductation | Legal Activism
| Media Education
Hindu Human Rights
| Hindu Hate Watch Project | Community
Outreach
HAF
ORGANIZED ITS FIRST GOVERNMENT OUTREACH DAY IN WASHINGTON,
D.C.
Marking a first for the Hindu Diaspora, HAF
met with legislators in May 2004 to discuss issues concerning
Hindu Americans. In personal meetings with nearly a dozen
members of the U.S. Congress in May, HAF members presented
briefs & held discussions on Hindu human rights in Kashmir,
Bangladesh & Pakistan, as well as domestic issues such
as prayer-in-schools & 10 Commandments displays in public
spaces. Also, HAF introduced a brochure specially prepared
for U.S. public officials that summarizes the core principles
of Hinduism & its inherent values of tolerance, pluralism
& peace. Throughout the year, HAF continued to meet with
key Congressmen (Rep.
Crowley &
Rep. Ros-Lehtinen), and HAF was lauded by the
Co-Chairs of the Congressional Caucus on India.
HAF HOSTED DINNER
RECEPTION ON CAPITOL HILL AND INTRODUCED SRI SRI RAVI
SHANKAR
On May 5, HAF hosted a dinner
reception on Capitol Hill attended by numerous members
of the U.S. Congress & several of their congressional
aides. Also attending were leaders of prominent American
NGOs, representatives of the Embassies of India &
Nepal, prominent Indian-Americans & HAF supporters.
HAF was honored to introduce India's great spiritual &
humanitarian leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar at the reception.
Delivering a message of peace & understanding, Guruji
was welcomed by special guests that included Rep. David
Dreier & the co-chairs of the Congressional Caucus
for India & Indian Americans, Rep. Joseph Crowley
& Rep. Joseph Wilson.
HAF
AUTHORED 1st EVER CONGRESSIONAL RESOLUTION ON DIWALI
This 1st ever resolution recognizing
the cultural and spiritual significance of Diwali (Deepavali)
was authored by HAF & introduced by Congressman Crowley.
HINDU
AMERICANS REPRESENTED AT NATIONAL MEETING ON FAITH BASED INITIATIVES
FOR FIRST TIME
Hundreds of leaders of faith-based & community
organizations from across the United States attended the first
Annual National Conference on Faith-Based & Community
Initiatives (FBCI) in June in Washington, D.C. The conference
was hosted by the White House in association with various
government agencies. HAF continues to interact with the FBCI
Office.
Legal
Activism Campaign
HAF
FILED 1st EVER BRIEF BY A HINDU AMERICAN GROUP ON BEHALF OF
HINDUS WITH THE U.S. SUPREME COURT IN TEN COMMANDMENTS CASE
HAF spearheaded the filing of an amicus
curiae (friend of the court) brief with the United States
Supreme Court in a case involving the placement of a permanent
monument of the Ten Commandments on government property. The
brief, filed December 13 in one of the most widely anticipated
cases being heard by the Supreme Court this year, supports
the position that the Monument violates the separation of
church & state guaranteed by the First Amendment of the
U.S. Constitution. HAF garnered the support of nine co-signatories
to file the brief on behalf of the millions of Hindus, Buddhists
& Jains in the United States. The HAF brief is perhaps
the first to provide a non-Judeo-Christian perspective to
this issue.
HAF
SUBMITTED A FRIEND OF COURT LETTER IN FEDERAL COURT IN SUPPORT
OF A HINDU TEMPLE IN NEW YORK
On
September 2, HAF submitted an amicus (friend of court) letter,
with ten co-signatories spanning the religious spectrum, in
support of a request for injunctive relief filed by the Hindu
Temple Society of North America in United States federal court.
The federal lawsuit, filed on behalf of the Hindu temple by
the Becket Fund for Religious Liberty, & supported by
the HAF amici curiae letter, claimed that the Supreme Court
of the State of New York engaged in a hostile takeover of
the prominent Hindu Temple in Queens, New York.
HAF
ONLY HINDU ORGANIZATION TO CO-SIGN AMICUS BRIEF WITH THE U.S.
SUPREME COURT AS PART OF COALITION FOR THE FREE EXERCISE FOR
RELIGION
The
brief, submitted in Cutter v. Wilkinson, argues that the Religious
Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA), a federal
law that requires state prisons receiving federal funds to
reasonably accommodate inmates' religious practices, is constitutional.
Media
Education Campaign
HAF
ATTENDED THE RELIGION NEWSWRITERS ASSOCIATION (RNA) ANNUAL
CONFERENCE IN WASHINGTON D.C.
This
annual conference held in September, was attended by editors
and writers covering religion issues at over 100 newspapers
& other media organizations, included representatives
from the Washington Post, New York Times, Chicago Sun-Times,
USA Today, & San Francisco Chronicle. Our attendance furthered
our mission to interact with media to promote an accurate
portrayal of Hinduism & to increase awareness of issues
of concern to Hindu Americans.
HAF CONTRIBUTES
TO HINDUISM COVERAGE
HAF
continues to interact with political, legal, religious, ethnic,
& community reporters across America & in organizations
such as RNA & SAJA (South Asian Journalists Association).
HAF has also had Letters to the Editor printed in response
to coverage of Hinduism and Hindus, in the following newspapers
HAF CONTRIBUTES
TO POSITIVE COVERAGE ON DIWALI.
Hindu
Human Rights Campaign
CONGRESSMAN
PALLONE CONDEMNS PERSECUTION OF HINDUS IN BANGLADESH FOLLOWING
MEETINGS WITH HAF
On May 17, Rep.
Frank Pallone took the floor of the U.S. House of Representatives
& delivered a categorical condemnation of the violent
persecution of Hindus in Bangladesh following the ascension
to power of the Islamist Bangladesh National Party. Concurrent
with HAF's policy position, he called for a restoration of
secularism in the Constitution of Bangladesh, recognition
of historical atrocities against Hindus since 1971, repatriation
of Hindu refugees & passage of laws forbidding hate crimes
& torture.
HAF
CONDEMNED HUMAN RIGHTS VIOLATIONS.
On Human
Rights Day (December 10), HAF called for the world community
to recognize the rights of Hindus worldwide & condemned
ongoing human rights violations against Hindus worldwide.
HAF
ISSUED POLICY BRIEFINGS ON HINDU HUMAN RIGHTS IN BANGLADESH,
JAMMU & KASHMIR STATE, AND PAKISTAN.
These are being shared with officials in governments
worldwide, journalists, and various NGOs.
HAF
INTERACTS WITH HUMAN RIGHTS GROUPS.
HAF met with the Global Human Rights Defence,
based in the Netherlands. HAF also continues to communicate
with Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch, & the
United States Commission for International Religious Freedom.
HAF
WRITES TO THE MEDIA ON HINDU HUMAN RIGHTS.
HAF had a Letter to the Editor printed in the
Florida Times-Union reminding them of rampant Islamist terrorism
in Kashmir, in addition to writing several letters to other
newspapers about Hindu human rights.
Hindu
Hate Watch Project
HAF
CALLS ATTENTION TO HINDU HATE GROUPS.
HAF compiled a report of Internet websites
dedicated to propagating hatred & violence against Hindus
& Hinduism. These websites were shared with the Simon
Wiesenthal Center, an international human rights organization
that promotes tolerance and opposes religious prejudice in
all of its manifestations. The SWC included a selection of
these anti-Hindu websites in a compilation entitled, "Digital
Terrorism and Hate 2004." The report was presented to a Congressional
Subcommittee on March 22.
HAF
CENSURED DENVER POST FOR PUBLISHING HINDUPHOBIC COLUMN.
In April, the Denver Post featured an article
by a regular columnist, Pius Kamau, in which Kamau slandered
Hindu American neighbors in his hometown. Kamau wrote a defamatory
& highly inaccurate rant against Hindu tenets & Hindu
ways of worship. The Denver Post printed HAF's Letter to the
Editor after HAF communicated directly with the editorial
board.
HAF
RESPONDED TO INFLAMMATORY REMARKS BY EVANGELIST ZACARIAS IN
INDIA ABROAD.
In June, India Abroad featured an interview
with the evangelist Ravi Zacarias which denigrated Hinduism.
HAF's Letter to the Editor in response to this was printed
in July.
HAF
ORGANIZED CAMPAIGN AGAINST DENIGRATION OF LORD GANESHA.
Paul Courtright, Professor & Interim Chair
of the Department of Religion at Emory University, reprinted
a book entitled, Ganesa: Lord of Obstacles, Lord of Beginnings.
This book contains highly obscene psychoanalytical interpretations
of the origin & symbolism of Lord Ganesha. His shocking
undressing of Lord Ganesha while narrating a scurrilous story
of sex, phallic symbolism, & incestuous relationships
was nothing but a malicious attack. HAF summarized the issue
on-line & organized an on-line petition campaign against
the writing.
Community
Outreach Campaign
HAF
NATIONAL HINDU AWARENESS CAMPAIGN.
This includes a multimedia presentation
that educates Hindus about the misrepresentations & defamation
of Hinduism in academics, media & government, Hindu human
rights issues, & challenges before the Hindu American
community. It has been presented in Florida, New Jersey, Massachusetts,
Pennsylvania, & California.
HAF
MEETS AMERICAN JEWISH LEADERS.
In September, HAF formally addressed
the American Jewish Committee San Francisco Board of Directors.
HAF highlighted the common values shared by the two communities,
stressed the need for Hindus & Jews to work together to
promote understanding, tolerance, & pluralism, & detailed
some of the critical issues faced by the Hindu community in
the United States & in India.
HAF also interacted with leaders of the American Israel Public
Affairs Committee (AIPAC) during their Annual Policy Conference.
In addition, HAF has ongoing interaction with the Simon Wiesenthal
Center.
HAF INTERACTS WITH
NGOs.
HAF
has interacted with NGOs representing many religions, ideologies,
& purposes to educate them about Hinduism & Hindu
issues.
HAF SUPPORTS BUILDING
OF BAPS TEMPLE IN CHINO HILLS, CALIFORNIA.
HAF utilized a vast database of thousands of
involved & active Hindus throughout the world, to raise
awareness of the discrimination & hate encountered by
the BAPS temple. HAF leveraged strong ties to non-Hindu groups
to offer political & spiritual solidarity. A strategic
plan was constructed for BAPS leaders.
HAF
EXPRESSES DISTRESS OVER THE ARREST OF SANKARACHARYA OF KANCHI.
HAF issued a widely circulated press statement
& also
wrote to the New York Times about its inadequate coverage
of this issue and its calling His Holiness 'Mr. Shankaracharya.'
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