Hindu Extremists Attack Prophet Mohammad’s Birthday Celebration In Madhya Pradesh
The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) condemns the mass violence against Muslims at five cities in Madhya Pradesh state. The attacks from Hindu extremists came when thousands of Muslims were celebrating the festival of Milad-un-Nabi, the birthday of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH).
The attacks on the Muslims were clearly coordinated as they occurred on the same day. There needs to be an independent investigation of the attacks and the response of the police, which has, incredibly, also filed charges against the Muslims who were attacked.
There is hardly any hope for a fair investigation from the Madhya Pradesh government, which is led by the Hindu extremist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. It is also unacceptable that while the State Government had allowed the Hindu festival of Garba to be observed publicly, it had denied permission to Muslims to hold celebrations for Milad-Un-Nabi.
Christians Oppose Karnataka Government Survey Of Missionary Organizations
The IAMC stands in solidarity with Christians in Karnataka State who are opposing a survey of Christian missionary work that has been ordered by the Karnataka State’s Legislative Assembly with the clear intention to stigmatize the Christian faith and its followers.
IAMC supports the stand taken by Rev. Peter Machado, the President of the Karnataka Region Catholic Bishops’ Council, that any survey should cover all religious communities and not just Indian Christian organizations.
The latest assault on the Christians in Karnataka has followed a campaign against Christians by a legislator of the BJP, which runs the state government. The legislator, Goolihatti Shekar, had last month claimed that his mother had converted to Christianity and had demanded that the Christian missionary organizations be investigated for “unauthorized church work.” The BJP’s government in Karnataka has a history of attacking Muslims and Christians and their faith-based organizations.
Hindu Upper Castes Attack Dalits On Day Of Hindu Festival
The IAMC condemns the attack by Hindu extremists on a dozen Dalits on October 15 (Friday) in Kamareddy district in Telangana state. The attack by the extremists came when the Dalits were planning to burn an effigy of Hindu god Ram, as these Dalits reject the caste-ridden Hindu society which places the Dalits at the bottom of the rung.
Caste Hindus have oppressed and persecuted Dalits for centuries, many of whom are still considered untouchable. The Dalits had earlier objected to the upper castes burning an effigy of Ravana, who is a mythical villain in a Hindu epic, and who many Dalits believe belonged to their community.
