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Date: November 7, 2005
TAMPA, FL - The Hindu American
Foundation (HAF) protested the denial of entry of Pamela K.
Fleig, a practicing Hindu of United States origin, into the
11th century Lingaraj temple of Bhubaneswar in the Indian
state of Orissa. Fleig, 22, had officially converted to Hinduism
at the Arya Samaj in Varanasi prior to her marriage with Anil
Kumar Yadav of Uttar Pradesh, India. However, when the couple
attempted to enter the Lingaraj temple, priests did not allow
Fleig to enter, claiming that she was a non-Hindu and a foreigner.
"The blatant discrimination
against Hindus of non-Indian ethnicities is a social evil
akin to caste-based discrimination" said Pawan Deshpande,
member of the Hindu American Foundation Executive Council.
"Hinduism is a global religion with adherents from all nationalities
and ethnicities, and this episode illustrates that the need
for social reforms in a small segment of Hindu society is
urgent."
Following the incident,
Fleig and her husband filed a complaint with the local police
authorities. The police have registered cases under section
341, 354 (outraging modesty), 323 (assault) and 506 of the
Indian Penal Code and are currently investigating the incident.
Fleig also stated that she would take up the matter with the
U.S. Embassy.
"We hope that the priests
will reverse their erroneous actions and ensure that Ms. Fleig
is granted full access to Hindu places of worship," said Aseem
Shukla M.D., member of the HAF Board of Directors. "We believe
that the multitude of laws that already exist in India to
prohibit caste, race and sex based discrimination must be
implemented and enforced immediately-and violators must face
serious consequences to the full extent of those laws."
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