Non-Muslims are systematically persecuted in Muslim countries
Tuesday, July 17th 2007
Dear Editor,
I kept Sultan Khan's letter, "Christendom is an obsolete notion, which is anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim" (July 03, 2007) and carefully studied it. I agree with Khan's analysis regarding the concept of "Christendom." However, this is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black. I wish to address the plight of Hindus and other non-Muslims in Muslim countries.
In all Islamic countries that had large Hindu populations prior to these countries becoming Islamic states, such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, the Hindu population has rapidly declined due to widespread atrocities incited by a radical exposition of Islamic theology that declares non-Muslims as kafirs. In addition, these states themselves sponsor discrimination against Hindus and non-Muslim minorities. For example, in 1965, "The Enemy Property Act" was passed in Pakistan that openly incited and legitimized the confiscation of Hindu-owned lands and buildings. During 1970-71, massacres were perpetrated by the Pakistani army against Hindus. Human rights groups estimated that approximately three million Hindus were killed. Millions of Hindu women were raped and kidnapped in this period. In 1977, the military dictator, General Zia ul-Haq introduced Islamic sharia that further marginalized Hindus. Between 1989 and1992 approximately 300 Hindu temples were destroyed in Pakistan alone.
In Bangladesh, Hindus are officially and legally identified as enemies of the state. The "Enemy Property Act" of Bangladesh was put in place to confiscate lands and other properties from Hindus. This anti-Hindu law is still in place as we speak.
In all of these countries Hindu temples are still being systematically destroyed, and Hindus are denied basic human dignity. There was international outrage from non-Muslims over the demolition of several Hindu temples in Malaysia between April and May 2006, many of them more that a hundred years old. On April 21, 2006, the 107-year-old Malaimel Sri Selva Kaliamman Temple in Kuala Lumpur was reduced to rubble after the city hall sent in bulldozers. These state atrocities are committed against the most underprivileged and powerless sector, the Hindu society in Malaysia. The video of this particular temple destruction, as well as other Hindu temple demolitions in other Muslim countries are available for all to see on the internet.
Only recently, a Hindu family living in Saudi Arabia was deported for performing pooja in their home. The Saudi religious police, on a tip by Muslims, destroyed the pooja room of the devoted Hindu family and later deported them.
Despite the fate of Hindus in Islamic countries, and places where large Muslim populations exist, in Hindu India the Muslim population has been steadily rising. In India, there are several ordinances in place, and politicians are busy making more of these ordinances, to make this Hindu country a better place for Muslims. When will Muslim countries offer non-Muslims similar kind gestures? When will the Hindu population and other non-Muslim populations be allowed to grow in Muslim countries, as the Muslims have been allowed to flourish in Hindu India?
The brutality against Hindus by Islamic forces, in history, and even today, knows no parallel in human history. The Chicago Tribune (July 13, 2007) carried a news article which highlighted some of these atrocities against Hindus by Muslims in Muslim countries. These include kidnap, rape, and forcible conversion of Hindu girls.
While Muslims demand equal rights in non-Muslim countries, and they should have equal rights, non-Muslims are systematically persecuted, terrorized and ethnically cleansed from Muslim countries and many places where Muslims are a majority. Europe (non-Muslim countries) has been very kind to Muslims in comparison to the treatment of non-Muslims in Muslim countries.
Yours faithfully,
Somadatta Mahabir
Nandalall
Dear Editor,
I kept Sultan Khan's letter, "Christendom is an obsolete notion, which is anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim" (July 03, 2007) and carefully studied it. I agree with Khan's analysis regarding the concept of "Christendom." However, this is a classic case of the pot calling the kettle black. I wish to address the plight of Hindus and other non-Muslims in Muslim countries.
In all Islamic countries that had large Hindu populations prior to these countries becoming Islamic states, such as Pakistan, Bangladesh and Afghanistan, the Hindu population has rapidly declined due to widespread atrocities incited by a radical exposition of Islamic theology that declares non-Muslims as kafirs. In addition, these states themselves sponsor discrimination against Hindus and non-Muslim minorities. For example, in 1965, "The Enemy Property Act" was passed in Pakistan that openly incited and legitimized the confiscation of Hindu-owned lands and buildings. During 1970-71, massacres were perpetrated by the Pakistani army against Hindus. Human rights groups estimated that approximately three million Hindus were killed. Millions of Hindu women were raped and kidnapped in this period. In 1977, the military dictator, General Zia ul-Haq introduced Islamic sharia that further marginalized Hindus. Between 1989 and1992 approximately 300 Hindu temples were destroyed in Pakistan alone.
In Bangladesh, Hindus are officially and legally identified as enemies of the state. The "Enemy Property Act" of Bangladesh was put in place to confiscate lands and other properties from Hindus. This anti-Hindu law is still in place as we speak.
In all of these countries Hindu temples are still being systematically destroyed, and Hindus are denied basic human dignity. There was international outrage from non-Muslims over the demolition of several Hindu temples in Malaysia between April and May 2006, many of them more that a hundred years old. On April 21, 2006, the 107-year-old Malaimel Sri Selva Kaliamman Temple in Kuala Lumpur was reduced to rubble after the city hall sent in bulldozers. These state atrocities are committed against the most underprivileged and powerless sector, the Hindu society in Malaysia. The video of this particular temple destruction, as well as other Hindu temple demolitions in other Muslim countries are available for all to see on the internet.
Only recently, a Hindu family living in Saudi Arabia was deported for performing pooja in their home. The Saudi religious police, on a tip by Muslims, destroyed the pooja room of the devoted Hindu family and later deported them.
Despite the fate of Hindus in Islamic countries, and places where large Muslim populations exist, in Hindu India the Muslim population has been steadily rising. In India, there are several ordinances in place, and politicians are busy making more of these ordinances, to make this Hindu country a better place for Muslims. When will Muslim countries offer non-Muslims similar kind gestures? When will the Hindu population and other non-Muslim populations be allowed to grow in Muslim countries, as the Muslims have been allowed to flourish in Hindu India?
The brutality against Hindus by Islamic forces, in history, and even today, knows no parallel in human history. The Chicago Tribune (July 13, 2007) carried a news article which highlighted some of these atrocities against Hindus by Muslims in Muslim countries. These include kidnap, rape, and forcible conversion of Hindu girls.
While Muslims demand equal rights in non-Muslim countries, and they should have equal rights, non-Muslims are systematically persecuted, terrorized and ethnically cleansed from Muslim countries and many places where Muslims are a majority. Europe (non-Muslim countries) has been very kind to Muslims in comparison to the treatment of non-Muslims in Muslim countries.
Yours faithfully,
Somadatta Mahabir
Nandalall
Labels: Hindu Human Rights, Islamic Terrorism, National Security
Non-Muslims are systematically persecuted in Muslim countries
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