Inside This Newsletter

HAF MIXED ON U.S. SUPREME COURT'S DECISIONS IN TEN COMMANDMENTS CASES

HAF OBTAINS SUPPORT OF CONGRESSIONAL LEADER ON HINDU HUMAN RIGHTS

HAF BEGINS DIALOGUE WITH WHITE HOUSE

HAF ATTENDS INDIAN-AMERICAN POLICY DAY ON CAPITOL HILL

HAF Mixed on U.S. Supreme Court's Decisions in Ten Commandments Cases

June 27, 2005

TAMPA, FL: The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) expressed a combination of relief and some disappointment over the Supreme Court decisions on the constitutionality of Ten Commandments displays on government property.  The decision in McCreary County vs. ACLU, that disallowed a framed version of the Ten Commandments in a Kentucky courthouse supported the HAF position that public displays of the overtly Judeo-Christian Ten Commandments effectively promote a particular religion over other religious traditions.  In contrast, in Thomas Van Orden vs. Rick Perry, a case in which HAF submitted the first ever Supreme Court amicus brief representing Hindus, Buddhists and Jains, the Court ruled that the display of the Ten Commandments on the Texas State Capitol grounds could remain.

Visit our 10 Commandments Campaign Page for more information

The HAF amicus brief was cited in the dissenting opinion authored by Justice John Paul Stevens in the Van Orden case.  In the citing, Justice Stevens wrote that the monument violates the Establishment Clause of the Constitution by prescribing a compelled code of conduct from one God, namely a Judeo-Christian God, that is rejected by…Hinduism, as well as nontheistic religions, such as Buddhism.”

“Clearly, some members of the bench considered our views seriously and decided in favour of our communities in the Kentucky case,” said Suhag Shukla, Esq., Legal Counsel of HAF, who coordinated the filing of the brief with a team of attorneys working pro bono at Goodwin Procter, LLP.  “We are disappointed that the Court’s reasoning in the Kentucky case did not produce the same conclusion in the Texas case.”

In its decisions, the Supreme Court held that the context in which the display is placed is paramount.  According to the Court, the courtroom displays in Kentucky were placed with an expressed purpose to promote the Judeo-Christian faith.   

“If the factual surroundings of the Decalogue displays are critical to their constitutionality,” said Nikhil Joshi, Esq., member of the Hindu American Foundation Board of Directors, “Then HAF, and similar organizations protecting the views of other major religious traditions, must remain vigilant to ensure that the separation of church and state enshrined in our Constitution is never violated.”

Despite the split decision in these cases, Shukla and Joshi expressed satisfaction that HAF’s efforts in this case were recognized.  “To have the Hindu, Buddhist and Jain perspective acknowledged by the highest court is a first for our community,” said Ms. Shukla.  “HAF will endeavour to ensure that a Hindu voice is heard in dialogues of national import.”   

Click here to view the full amicus curiae (friend of the court brief).

For further information: Please contact HAF.
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HAF Obtains Support of Congressional Leader on Hindu Human Rights

June 20, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC: On Friday, June 17, 2005, HAF Board Member Nikhil N. Joshi, Esq., visited Capitol Hill and met with the Honorable Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen. Ros-Lehtinen is the Republican Chair of the Congressional India Caucus.  Mr. Joshi met with the congresswoman to discuss the serious human rights violations that are occurring against Hindus in Pakistan, Bangladesh and the Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir. 

Nikhil Joshi, member of the HAF Board of Directors, meets with Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL) on Capitol Hill.

The meeting with the congresswoman took place in the storied Rayburn Room in the Capitol Building, just off of the floor of the House of Representatives. During the cordial meeting, Mr. Joshi obtained the congresswoman's public backing of HAF's first annual Hindu Human Rights Report which identifies the atrocities that have occurred against Hindu minorities, which have been mostly ignored or minimized by prominent human rights groups and international bodies.   The report is to be released in early July.

"On behalf of not only the 2.2 million Hindus in America, but the 1.2 billion Hindus worldwide, we sincerely thank Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen for her efforts in raising awareness of the continuing attacks against Hindus and for her commitment to see action taken against those terrorists responsible."

For further information: Please contact HAF.
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HAF Begins Dialogue with White House

June 20, 2005

WASHINGTON, DC: On Friday, June 17, 2005, Nikhil N. Joshi, Esq., member of the Hindu American Foundation (HAF) Board of Directors, discussed various issues of concern to Hindu Americans with Mr. Ruben Barralles, the Assistant to the President and White House Director for Intergovernmental Affairs. 

During an extended visit with Director Barralles in his office in the Eisenhower Executive Building, adjacent to the White House, Mr. Joshi expressed HAF's support for the Bush Administration's strong stance against terrorism and hatred inspired by religious fundamentalism.  HAF’s upcoming Hindu Human Rights Report was discussed in detail as well as ways in which Hindu American issues could be discussed at the highest levels of government.

“It is our vision at HAF that this nation prospers as a truly pluralistic society where citizens of all faiths have a voice in the national dialogue,” said Mr. Joshi after his visit with Director Barralles.  “I am pleased that the White House shares in this vision and recognizes the Hindu American community as one of growing significance and influence.”

Mr. Joshi invited the White House to more fully engage the Hindu American community in dialogue and with formal Hindu representation at events such as the National Day of Prayer and official recognition of the most important Hindu festival of Diwali in the fall.  Director Barralles encouraged Hindu engagement of the Faith-Based and Community Initiatives (FBCI) program that President Bush initiated.

For further information: Please contact HAF.
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HAF Attends Indian-American Policy Day on Capitol Hill

June 21, 2005

WASHINGTON, D.C.: On Tuesday, June 21, 2005, Hindu American Foundation (HAF) Executive Council Member, Rajan Patel, represented HAF at the Second Annual Indian American Policy Day sponsored by Congressman Joseph Crowley (D-NY).  Key attendees of the conference included Congresswomen Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Sheila Jackson Lee (D-TX), and Shelley Berkley (D-NV).  Mr. Patel updated existing HAF supporters Congressman Crowley and Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen on HAF’s most recent accomplishments such as the successful release of our annual Hindu Human Rights report in the U.K. and introduced HAF in detail to Congresswoman Jackson Lee and Congresswoman Berkley.

Several key government officials spoke at the conference including Ambassador Josette Sheeran Shiner of The Office of the U.S. Trade Representative, Ambassador R.S. Jassal of the Indian Embassy, Nicholas Dean of the South Asia Bureau, and Brett Palmer of the Department of Commerce.  The main topics of conversation were nuclear proliferation in India, the continued debate over the outsourcing of many American jobs to Asia, India-Pakistan relations, India Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh’s pending visit to the U.S., and the sale of F-16’s to both India and Pakistan.

Congresswoman Berkley noted that as Hindu Americans are making up a significantly larger portion of her district (Las Vegas, NV) she has been becoming more involved in the Hindu American community, including an appearance at the groundbreaking of the Hindu Temple in Las Vegas.  After introducing HAF to the Congresswoman, Mr. Patel noted that he looks forwarding to working with her on issues important to our community as a whole.

For further information: Please contact HAF.
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