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New York, NY (July 14, 2011) - Leaders of the Hindu American Foundation participated in the Council on Foreign Relations’ (CFR) Religion and Foreign Policy Summer Workshop for the fifth year in a row. CFR, considered to be one of the nation’s most influential think tanks, has provided this forum to deepen the understanding of issues at the nexus of religion and U.S. foreign policy. This year, HAF seized the opportunity to provide its Op Eds, articles, and policy statement on the detrimental impact predatory proselytization, especially driven by U.S.-based missionary organizations, is having on religious freedom and inter-religious relations abroad.

 

"The first few years that we attended, our perspective on conversion as a form of violence fell on deaf ears, but for one or two attendees from traditionally pluralistic faiths,” said Dr. Mihir Meghani, co-founder and board member of the Foundation. “This year we were met with a marked change in that more attendees were receptive to our views. This is certainly progress, but much more is needed.”

 

Last year, after nearly two years of exerting pressure on the Council for its lack of representation of Eastern traditions in both its summer workshops as well as its Religious Advisory Committee, CFR invited Suhag Shukla, co-founder and HAF Managing Director/Legal Counsel, to serve on the Committee as well as working towards expanding its outreach to the Hindu American community.

 

"Our hope is to see more and more representatives of Dharmic traditions participate in these workshops,” stated Shukla. “The challenge of religious pluralism and respect is a long and arduous one, especially within the scope of foreign relations. But we need sustained and growing proactive participation to both convince and build coalitions that are supportive of our stances, especially the dangers of predatory proselytization.”