Inside This Newsletter

HAF PROTESTS SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE ARTICLE DEFAMING HINDUISM

HINDUS IN AMERICA CONDEMN ACTIONS OF SAUDI ARABIAN RELIGIOUS POLICE

HAF HOLDS HINDU AWARENESS CAMPAIGNS IN ATLANTA AND NEW YORK

HAF BOARD MEMBER SPEAKS AT AACSA CONFERENCE AND ARYA SAMAJ MAHA SAMMELAN
 

HAF Releases First Ever Annual Survey of Hindu Human Rights CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFO

HAF Protests San Francisco Chronicle Article Defaming Hinduism

June 30, 2005

Dear Editor,

The Hindu American Foundation takes strong exception to Jon Carroll's sweeping misstatement about Hinduism in his column Jon Carroll, on June 30, 2005. Mr. Carroll says, "In the conservative Hindu belief system that has been sweeping India for a decade, rape is considered a just punishment for various forms of misbehavior."

While Hindu women, like their sisters worldwide in other societies, do face social problems, no Hindu scripture or Hindu religious leader has condoned rape. Rather, most have been vehemently outspoken about crimes against women. In fact, Hinduism is one religion that worships God in the feminine aspect as well and Hindu women today lead businesses, worldwide spiritual movements, and politics.  In this time of significant global religious conflict when understanding and tolerance are the need of the hour, it is completely irresponsible for the author to peddle such outright falsehoods. Hindu values, conservative or liberal, have never considered rape a just punishment for any crime. To assert that Hindus condone this heinous crime is ignorant at best, and malicious at worst.

Swaminathan Venkataraman
Mihir Meghani
Hindu American Foundation

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Hindus in America Condemn Actions of Saudi Arabian Religious Police

August 13, 2005

TAMPA,FL: The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) expressed concern over the latest news that detention cases of Indian nationals on allegations of involvement in religious activities in Saudi Arabia are steadily on the rise. 

On August 3, 2005, the Indo-Asian News Service (IANS) reported that Indians traveling to Saudia Arabia have been warned not to carry religious scriptures, photographs or icons, as per an official statement issued by the government of the Indian state of Andhra Pradesh. The Indian Ambassador in Riyadh said, “Indian nationals should be strictly briefed against organizing group religious activities in private residences or undertaking missionary or preaching activity.” This came on the eve of the arrest of nine Indians for allegedly preaching Christianity in Saudi Arabia, reported IANS.

“It is particularly shocking that Saudi Arabia, as a spiritual heartland itself with the holy cities of Mecca and Medina, continues to ban private worship by non-Muslims,” said Pawan Deshpande, member of HAF Executive Council.  “Preventing Hindus from practicing their own faith in the privacy of their own homes deserves unequivocal condemnation by the global community”. Especially worrisome is that the role of the Muttwa’in (Religious Police) is enforced by the state.

All forms of non-Muslim worship are banned in the ultra-conservative country, whose laws conform to Sharia, laws based on the teachings of the Koran and Wahhabi Islam. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) stated in a 2005 annual report, “The Saudi government continues to engage in an array of severe violations of human rights as a part of its official repression of freedom of thought, conscience, and religion or belief.”

Reuter’s reported the recent death of King Fahd, which has revived debate on whether crown prince Abdullah will change state policies on his ascension to the throne. In February 2005, King Abdullah said that changing the conservative kingdom could take a long time, his comments recharging fears among human rights organizations that the fundamental rights of non-Muslims in the region will continue to be oppressed.  

HAF expresses deep concern for the blatant violations of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia against non-Islamic faiths. “The intolerance in Saudi Arabia is disturbing because the law affects a large immigrant Hindu workforce,” said Aseem Shukla, M.D., member of HAF of Directors. “We call for the U.S. government to demand that Saudi Arabia implement immediate reforms with regards to religious freedom in that country.”

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HAF Holds Hindu Awareness Campaigns in New York and Atlanta

Swaminathan Venkataraman and Mihir Meghani, M.D., spoke at HAF’s Hindu Awareness Campaign presentations over the weekend of July 30-31, 2005 at the Hindu Temple Society of North America, in Queens, N.Y. and at the home of Drs. Urmila Shivaram and Dr. Subrahmanya Bhat in Long Island, N.Y.  Highlighting the problems facing Hindus in America to youth, parents, and community leaders at 3 different programs, Mr. Venkatraman and Dr. Meghani encouraged Hindus to become aware and to get involved in promoting a positive and accurate perspective of Hinduism and Hindu issues.

At the Hindu Temple Society of North America, Mr. Venkataraman presented the President of the Temple the HAF Guide for Hindu Organizations to Faith Based and Community Initiative Funding, and thanked Dr. Mysorekar for her leadership with the oldest Hindu temple in North America and offered to work with her to get funding.

HAF brought its Hindu Awareness Campaign to Atlanta, GA on August 6, 2005 at The Palace Restaurant in Norcross, GA.  HAF President Mihir Meghani, M.D., Board member Aseem Shukla, M.D., and Legal Counsel Suhag Shukla, Esq. each spoke to the audience of Atlanta community leaders regarding the problems facing Hindus in America and HAF's role in facing these problems.  HAF Executive Council members, Sheetal Shah and Rajan Patel, encouraged the Atlanta community to stay involved and informed after its successful stand against Paul Courtright of Emory University. 


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HAF Board Member Speaks at AACSA Conference and Arya Samaj Maha Sammelan

On July 9, 2005, HAF Board Member, Nikhil N. Joshi, Esq. addressed the Asian-American Convenience Stores Association conference in Tampa, Florida on legal topics affecting the community, including the recent metamphetamine sting operation conducted by federal officials against primarily Indian convenience store owners and operators in northern Georgia.  Mr. Joshi discussed the growing number of state laws that require vigilance by store owners and pointed out steps that can be taken by the store owners to protect themselves from criminal or civil liability.

On July 22, 2005, HAF Board Member, Nikhil N. Joshi, Esq., spoke to the 2005 Arya Samaj Maha Sammelan, held in Tampa, Florida. Mr. Joshi presented the Hindu American Foundation's vision, its accomplishments and plans for 2006 and beyond to an enthusiastic audience of supporters and well-wishers.  Mr. Joshi also called on the broader Indian community, including Hindus, Jains, Sikhs, Buddhists and others, to become aware of the issues impacting our communities, stay vigilant and participate in the larger dialogue occurring in the United States. 

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