HAF

[Guest guest]

HINDU AMERICAN FOUNDATION

PRESS RELEASE

 

 

Human Rights Groups Condemn Razing of Temple and Homes in Kazakhstan

 

 

WASHINGTON D.C. (Nov. 27, 2006) - The Hindu American Foundation (HAF)

strongly condemned the destruction of five homes and a temple belonging to

members of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) by

Kazakh government authorities. On November 21, 2006, sixty policemen

assembled at the ashram in Karasai District and bulldozed the property,

leaving devotees homeless in the middle of the winter.

 

Prior to the razing, ISKCON leaders reported being continually harassed by

local government officials seeking to seize their property. The government

has repeatedly filed lawsuits, confiscated land, barns and cows, and

subjected devotees to frequent police, fire protection service, sanitary

agency, environment protection agency, and land committee inspections. In

May 2006, HAF

<http://www.hinduamericanfoundation.org/media_press_release_kazakhstan.htm>

protested against an earlier attempt to raze the homes of ISKCON members on

behest of the local governor.

 

The destruction has drawn condemnation from Hindu and human rights

organizations around the globe. In addition, British Prime Minister Blair discussed the persecution of Hindus with Kazakhstan President

Nursultan Nazarbayev in London on November 22.

 

Following the destruction, Kazakh ISKCON devotee Rati Manjari said: "I have

no roof over my head in this winter time. It's not only me, there were

mothers with children. Where will they go?"

 

Kazakhstan, the largest republic in Central Asia with a population of over

15 million, is comprised of over 130 ethnic groups who practice 40

religions. Ethnic Russians, who typically are traditionally members of the

Russian Orthodox Church, constitute around a third of the population while

ethnic Kazakhs, who are Sunni Muslims, make up half. There is also a small

Jewish minority. Though not demographically significant, followers of

ISKCON, a Hindu Vaishnavite sect, have been registered in Karasai district

since May 2002.

 

According to the U.S. State Department's 2006 International Religious

Freedom report, a Kazakhstan government official stated that ISKCON is not

accepted as a religion and devotees are considered a threat to the country.

In the past, several Kazakh Members of Parliament have made inflammatory

official statements expressing suspicion of minority religions. Last year,

under the pretext of national security, several amendments to the

Constitution were passed allowing the government to target minority

religious groups and severely restrict religious freedom.

 

The Hindu American Foundation is a 501©(3), non-profit, non-partisan

organization promoting the Hindu and American ideals of understanding,

tolerance and pluralism. Contact HAF at 1-877-281-2838 or on the web at

www.hinduamericanfoundation.org.

 

 

 

 

 

---------- Forwarded Message ----------

 

Letter PAMHO:12640195 (6 lines)

Anuttama (das) ACBSP (IC N.America)

28-Nov-06 20:44 (15:44 -0500)

(Bhakti Bhrnga) Govinda Swami [49879]

"Sonia Chopra" <prsuccess4u > (sent: 28-Nov-06 20:46)

"Vyenkata 2" <vineetchander > (sent: 28-Nov-06 20:46)

Attached: HINDU_AMERICAN_FOUNDATION.zip (3831 bytes) "HAF Release Kaz 1"

HAF

---------------------------

Media Release attached from the Hindu American Foundation. They had the

facts wrong on the number of houses, but the release is helpful. Will send

report later on meeting with State Department, which was positive.

Your servant,

 

Anuttama dasa

(Text PAMHO:12640195) -----

 

------- End of Forwarded Message ------