Inside This Newsletter

HAF APPLAUDS U.S. SUPREME COURT'S UPHOLDING OF THE RELIGIOUS LAND AND INSTITUTIONALIZED PERSONS ACT

HAF CONCERNED OVER ARREST OF 42 INDIAN CONVENIENCE STORE OPERATORS

HAF TO SPEAK AT FOUNDATION FOR PLURALISM EVENT IN DALLAS, TX

HAF ATTRACTS RECORD SUPPORT IN TAMPA, FL

HAF Applauds US Supreme Court's Upholding of the Religious Land and Institutionalized Persons Act

June 11, 2005

TAMPA, FL:  The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) applauds the U.S. Supreme Court’s unanimous decision upholding the constitutionality of the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act (RLUIPA).  The RLUIPA is a federal law that protects the religious rights of prisoners in federally funded state prisons.

HAF, as part of a diverse league of religious and civil liberties organizations, had filed an amicus brief in Cutter v. Wilkinson arguing that the RLUIPA is constitutional.  The interfaith and bi-partisan league of amici, called The Coalition for the Free Exercise of Religion, included representatives from the Buddhist, Christian, Hindu, Jewish, Muslim, Native American and Sikh faith communities, as well as conservative and liberal religious advocacy and civil liberties groups.

"The Supreme Court has reaffirmed our position that a law protecting religious rights does not unduly advance religion or entangle the government in religious practice,” said Suhag A. Shukla, Esq., HAF’s Legal Counsel.  “On the contrary, as the brief notes, the accommodation of religion by removing substantial, government-imposed burdens on religious exercise is an essential element of a secular and democratic society.”

The plaintiffs in Cutter were Ohio prisoners who claimed that the state discriminated against their non-mainstream religious practices by denying them access to religious literature and the opportunity to conduct religious services.  This, they asserted, violated the RLUIPA and Ohio Constitution. A lower court struck down the law, holding that it was an unconstitutional endorsement of religion by the government.  The RLUIPA also includes provisions, not at issue in Cutter, which safeguard religious institutions against discriminatory land use practices. 

“Though the public at large may not always identify with certain religious beliefs or practices, this case signifies a win for religious groups whose members have faced discrimination under the guise of unevenly applied regulations, ” stated Nikhil N. Joshi, Esq., a member of the HAF’s Board of Directors.    

For further information: Please contact HAF.
Support HAF - Click here to become a member

HAF Concerned Over Arrest of 42 Indian Convenience Store Operators

June 11, 2005

TAMPA, FL: The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) expresses serious concern over the arrests of at least 42 convenience store owners and operators who are Hindus of Indian origin.  The arrests arose out of a federal sting operation in the northern region of Georgia.

Known as “Operation Meth Merchant,” the sting operation was coordinated by the United States Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia.  It centered around six (6) counties in Georgia and led to indictments and arrests of nearly 50 individuals. The operation was based on citizens entering pre-identified convenience stores to purchase specific goods that can be used in conjunction with other goods to create a dangerous drug called methamphetamine.  In so doing, the citizens were instructed to state that they were purchasing these goods “for a meth lab.”   

"The fact of the matter is that close to 90% of the resulting arrests were of Indians.  At best, it’s coincidence, but at first glance its appears to be more akin to racial profiling," said Nikhil N. Joshi, Esq., member of the HAF Board of Directors. According to the Asian American Convenience Store Association, a national organization, individuals of Indian origin own or operate only 30% of the convenience stores in the United States.  "For an operation to yield such skewed results is surprising given the diversity of ownership in the convenience store industry.  We’ll be monitoring this case closely to ensure these individuals are treated fairly and afforded equal protection under the law.”

HAF is also concerned that language barriers as wells as cultural differences may have played a role in the skewed results of the sting.  “The Indian American community can be insular and as such, may not always be well versed in the pop and drug culture of the public at large,” Mr. Joshi elaborated.  “HAF urges that the Attorney General’s office fully investigate these barriers and differences in examining each individual case.”

For further information: Please contact HAF.
Support HAF - Click here to become a member

HAF to Speak at Foundation for Pluralism Event in Dallas, TX

June 12, 2005

DALLAS, TX:  The Foundation for Pluralism will host an event in Dallas, Texas on Friday, July 17th in a campaign directed at showcasing all religious communities, one at a time.  The Dallas Hindu Community will be highlighted in the event which features "Shanti - Shanti", the only Sanskrit rock band in America.  The program will open with a lighting of the Diya, followed by a set of Bhajans. 

Dr. Mihir Meghani, President of the Hindu American Foundation, will make a special trip to the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex to appraise the role of the Hindu community in America by giving a powerful presentation.

Monica Sharma, president of Diya Magazine, a leading Entertainment and Fashion Magazine for the South Asian Community will present a unique fashion show fusing the transitioning Indian and American clothing thru multi-racial female and male models.

Purchase your tickets from Eisemann Center in Richardson (972)744 - 4650
Tickets are $14 or  $19.
You can also purchase Online at: http://eisemanncenter.com

For VIP tickets $50 and $100 you can purchase from www.Meraticket.com or simply call:

Mike (214) 325-1916
Monica: (972) 658-3890
Rekha: (214) 578-6147


TIME
Friday, June 17, 7:00 p.m.

LOCATION
Eisemann Center, Countrywide Theater
2351 Performance Drive
Richardson, TX 75082

The details of the program can be viewed at www.MikeGhouse.net

For further information: Please contact HAF.
Support HAF - Click here to become a member

HAF Attracts Record Support in Tampa, FL

June 13, 2005

TAMPA, FL:  On Sunday, June 5, 2005, the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) held a Youth Forum and a Hindu Awareness Campaign (HAC) event in Tampa, Florida at the Indian Cultural Center.  Both events had larger than expected attendance and reflected the support and interest in HAF’s mission.

HAF held its first ever Youth Forum for middle school, high school and college students.  The goal for the gathering was to promote a better understanding of and respect for the Hindu-American identity and to instill confidence in youth to work for the promotion of universal Hindu values and Hindu human rights.  Rajan Patel, a member of HAF’s Executive Council stated “The youth leaders shared thoughts on maintaining the Hindu identity, culture and traditions in America and the need for Hindus to have an effective voice in global policy decisions. The forum allowed HAF's leadership and the next generation of Hindu American leaders to freely and openly interact.”

HAF’s HAC event had the largest audience to date.  During the presentation, HAF leaders detailed HAF's dramatic evolution from February 7, 2004, when HAF was publicly launched in Tampa to its status today as the preeminent organization representing Hindu interests within the American centers of influence: government, academia, non-governmental organizations and the media.  HAF's Tampa Bay supporters donated a record amount to ensure that HAF will continue to work for the interests of the 2 million Hindu Americans. "The Tampa Bay community once again has generously blessed HAF with the resources to make a real difference for Hindus in America and, quite frankly, Hindus across the globe. HAF sincerely thanks the community for sharing HAF's vision for a more tolerant, understanding and pluralistic society," stated Nikhil Joshi, Esq., a member of HAF’s Board of Directors.

HAF's presentations were led by Board of Directors Members Nikhil Joshi, Esq, Aseem Shukla, M.D. and Mihir Meghani, M.D., HAF Legal Counsel Suhag Shukla, Esq., HAF Executive Council Members Rajan Patel and Swaminathan Venkataraman, and HAF Associate Members Adeeti Joshi and Sheetal D. Shah.

For further information: Please contact HAF.
Support HAF - Click here to become a member