|
DATE: May 15, 2005
TAMPA, FL: The Hindu American
Foundation (HAF) expressed support over portions of the annual
report released by the United States Commission on International
Religious Freedom (USCIRF) last week. The report placed Pakistan
and Saudi Arabia on the Commission's list of most serious
violators of religious freedom, the "Country of Particular
Concern (CPC)" list. Bangladesh was placed on the Commission's
"Watch List" for nations at risk for placement on the CPC
list. These recommendations were forwarded to the United States
Department of State, which considers them prior to publishing
its own CPC list.
HAF particularly appreciated
the attention the USCIRF report brought to the atrocities
suffered by Hindus and other minorities in these countries.
The foundation plans to release a report next month on the
status of Hindu human rights in Bangladesh, Pakistan and India's
State of Jammu and Kashmir for 2004 that will elaborate this
issue beyond the scope of the USCIRF report. HAF previously
issued a condemnation after Saudi religious police destroyed
a Hindu temple and deported worshippers.
"Hindus are victimized today
in Bangladesh, both by violent religiously motivated attacks
that have left hundreds dead, and by prejudicial laws that
allow the government to expropriate lands owned by Hindus,"
said Aseem Shukla, M.D., member of the HAF Board of Directors.
"We are pleased that this year's USCIRF report mentions these
abuses and has placed the Bangladesh government on the 'watch
list.'"
The HAF report, according
to the foundation, lists nearly 400 attacks that took place
against Bangladesh's Hindus in 2004 alone. "We believe the
Bangladesh government should more appropriately be named a
CPC," said Dr. Shukla. "We sincerely hope that the United
States will follow USCIRF's recommendations and apply sustained
pressure on the Bangladesh government to ensure justice, safety
and compensation for Hindu victims," he added.
Pakistan merited serious
censure in the USCIRF report as a CPC country due to Sunni
extremist group attacks against Hindus and Ahmadis, and the
use of Islamic blasphemy allegations as an excuse to torture
and terrorize these same groups. Still, HAF members were disappointed
that Pakistan's sponsorship and support for Islamist militants
that have attacked Hindus throughout the Indian state of Jammu
and Kashmir was overlooked in the report. Nearly 350,000 Kashmiri
Hindus are living as refugees in their own country as Islamist
militants have driven them out of their homes.
"HAF fully concurs with
the USCIRF recommendation to place Pakistan on the CPC list;
as should the U.S. State Department," said Sheetal D. Shah,
a member of HAF and its Hindu human rights report taskforce.
"Unfortunately, Pakistan's historical role in fomenting terrorism
against Hindus in Kashmir-that continues today, albeit at
a smaller scale after sustained international reproach-did
not merit direct mention in the report."
Dr. Shukla said that HAF's
first report on the status of Hindus in Bangladesh, Pakistan
and Jammu and Kashmir would detail atrocities in each country
where Hindus were targeted specifically for their religious
affiliation. The report will also describe the historical
context that precipitated these attacks, he added.
|
