Why is Supreme Court "failing" to decide on anti-Sikh genocide, Gujarat massacre?

By Mike Ghouse* 


Is the Indian judiciary accountable? The people of India have never questioned the authority of India's judiciary. Indeed, they are the only branch of government, who have not been examined for their role in upholding the constitution and the rule of law. It is the time one questions their lackadaisical attitude towards growing lawlessness in the nation and hold them accountable for their action. 

What is holding the Supreme Court from rendering judgment, and bringing closure to the anti-Sikh genocide, Godhra burning, Gujarat massacre, Nellie massacre, uprooting of Kashmiri Pundits, Babri Masjid, and freedom of speech issues? 

The silence of the state when the liberties of the citizens are trampled has gone unpunished. The Supreme Court can put an end to the catalytic nature of these unfortunate and tragic events. 

Many things will be straightened if justice is delivered on a timely basis. If a concerted effort is made and the momentum is built to remind the Supreme Court to take their responsibility seriously, they can put an end to the fear that has grasped the nation. 

The politicians, legislators and the administrators may be corrupt, but the judiciary has remained intact and is still free in India. The decisions by the apex court on the issues of LGTB, Sabarimala, Triple Talaq, and Babri Masjid are good examples, people have accepted their decision with protests but not violence. If we can hold the Supreme Court accountable for preserving the constitution and restoring justice, it will restitute hope to the hopelessness that is prevalent in India. 

Dr Zafar Iqbal writes, “It is an unfortunate fact that many attempts were made to influence Supreme Court judges, still, compared to other institutions, the Indian Supreme Court's record is much better. The SCI is still the best hope we have. The venomous culture being supported and promoted by the people in power is spreading like metastatic cancer.” 

Supreme Court is the last resort and defender of India's constitution, and if they can make bold decisions, they can restore sanity and the rule of law to India. The Supreme Court's role is to interpret the Constitution and serve as a check to the abuse of powers by the legislative and administrative branches of government. The judiciary is set up to be an independent body free from politicians and the bureaucrats. 

India is a mature democracy when people decide to unseat a tyrant like Indira Gandhi, they have done it through the ballot. Not only Indira, but the Prime Ministers and Chief Ministers of India have honored the verdict of the people and have stepped down every time when they lost the elections, and respectfully handed the keys to the new person elected. 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is no exception; he is one of the most attacked politicians of India, perhaps more than the combined attacks on all Prime Ministers. His biggest mistake is his inability to speak up when bad things happen in the nation. Since it is a pattern with him throughout the ordeals of rapes, lynching, murders, and harassment; one is inclined to think if there was merit in Sanjiv Bhatt’s statement that Modi let the goons have three days to finish killing as many Muslims as they could in a supposed revenge spree in Gujarat. 

Modi is not dumb, he can boldly speak out against miscreants that the rule of law would be applied to all those who lynch, harass, and rape, and will be punished severely. No murderer and rapist will get a ticket from his party to contest the elections. He knows he has the power and if he uses for good governance, it will substantially subside the cow vigilantes, lynching’s, rapes and murders and felicitation of criminals. 

Holding the Prime Minister accountable is the right thing to do. After all, it is the government of the people by the people for the people. Everyone is responsible in a democracy. Thank God, the era of dictators, kings, and tyrants is gone. 

Thanks to the Indian media, the first saviour of democracy, for protecting your rights to be free to pursue life, liberty, and happiness. Thanks to the “Indian Express”, the “Times of India” and the “Hindu” newspapers for standing up against the bullying by Indira Gandhi during her infamous emergency rule. The editor heroes went to jail instead of temporary protection that comes with sycophancy or silence. 

Now that awakening has come back, and we see the emergence of new heroes in the wire, squint, and other media outlets. They will be the new saviours of our freedom, and we need to celebrate them. Judiciary is a critical part of the governance if we write about the cavalier attitudes of the judiciary, things will start changing for the better. I welcome any criticism of the judiciary and solutions to go with them. 
--- 
*Public speaker, author, interfaith wedding officiant, executive director of the Center for Pluralism in Washington, DC. Click HERE for more 

Published at Counterview - https://www.counterview.net/2018/12/why-is-supreme-court-failing-to-decide.html

Hindu Right - Changes come when people feel other’s pain

Published on: 10:09 am, February 20, 2018 by: mattersindia.com

By Santosh Digal

The International Religious Freedom Caucus on February 13 organized a discussion on the religious freedom in India. Congressmen Gus Bilirakis and Thomas Garrett chaired the program.

A leading personality behind the discussion was Mike Mohamed Ghouse, founder of Center for Pluralism, Washington. Ghouse is a regular fighter against Islamophobia in America. he is committed to building cohesive societies and has relationships with people of "all' faiths from Atheists to Zoroastrians, including Native Americans, Pagans, Wicca, LGBTQ, and the immigrant communities. 

Part of that work can be seen at www.Standingupforothers.com and the Center for Pluralism. He is engaged in building relationships with various religious groups, especially Muslims and Christians of America. His work assumed significance after 9/11, which witnessed massive pluralization in American society.

He is often criticized by Islamic scholars for taking a rather liberal view of Islamic teachings and for trying to conform Islam to the demands of Western societies. However, he remains unfazed by the opposition. He has been a vocal critic of America’s war in Iraq and played a prominent role in the campaign against those who opposed a mosque in the Manhattan.

The Bengaluru-born pluralist and outstanding interfaith and peace activist settled in the United States shared with Matters India his views on religious freedom in India and the reasons for holding the discussion.

MATTERS INDIA: Why should the Hindu America Foundation (HAF) take the initiative against the lynching of Muslims, persecution of Christians and harassment of Dalits in India?

MICHAEL MOHAMED GHOUSE: HAF is a very active human rights organization in the US, and I expect them to condemn such violations of human rights. They have rightfully condemned such violations in Bangladesh, Pakistan, Afghanistan and elsewhere, as we have condemned. They did not get an opportunity to condemn the violations of the right-wing Hindu organizations in India. This is an opportunity for them to earn respect from all as a true human rights organization.

How can the recommendations that your forum made to the International Religious Freedom Caucus be fruitful?

The Caucus will take that up, and on my part, I will follow it up with them as well as the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. The HAF is well connected in India, and they can reason with the right wing organizations of India. They are in the best position to understand how the Hindus as minorities feel, they can understand the harassment they feel being a minority in America and elsewhere, and they can empathize with the minorities in India. Changes come when people feel the pain of the other, and I am sure HAF does feel because it is made up of people with American values; justice and fairness.

How can International Religious Freedom Caucus exert its influence on the Indian government against atrocities against Muslims, Christians and Dalits?

The Americans (that includes all of us) are aware of what is going on, we are driven by our interests, and human rights are one along with business and security of our investments. Do you remember South Africa? American companies will pull out of India if they sense injustice and eventual chaos, hurting everyone. Any investor wants security for his investment. It is in the interests of Indian corporations as well to ensure that their investments are safe. We need responsible business people to be involved who will bring prosperity to all.

What is the wake-up call for democracy in a country like India?

The success of a nation hinges on its two solid feet; economic prosperity which brings “sab ka vikas,” (development of all) not just “mitron ka vikas” (development of friends) and “sab ka saath,” (with everyone) where every Indian should feel included. That is a cohesive India, where no Indian feels excluded or lives in apprehension. Both the economy and social fabric must remain intact. One will not succeed without the other, otherwise what we will witness would a langda (lame) India and ultimately everyone will suffer.

Injustice to one is an injustice to all – and it would be anti-Sanatana dharma (eternal religion) not to respect the otherness of the other, and it would be adharma (irreligious) to harass, lynch and compel fellow Indians to do anything against their will. India will be back on its righteous track if Indians bring a strong opposition in Parliament or flip the party to govern.

Monopoly given to any party tempts them to become evil. The Bharatiya Janata Party is no exception. We the people have to wake up and save our democracy, the democracy that gives freedom to each one of us including the perpetrators and the victims. It is a shame if we let the incoherence is passed on to next generation; they don’t deserve our prejudices, ill-will, and pettiness.

http://mattersindia.com/2018/02/changes-come-when-people-feel-others-pain/

PK, why should it be seen?

To  be aware of jackals in the hides of Babas of all kinds, Muslim or Hindu. Protecting our girls should be of paramount importance.

More about PK at: http://mikeghouseforindia.blogspot.com/2014/12/pk-film-panacea-to-religious-conflicts.html

Here is the reason:Mumbai – 67-year-old ‘godman’ molests 17-year-old girl #Vaw #WTFnews

Posted by :kamayani On : January 6, 2015

0

Category:Advocacy, Human Rights, Justice, Kractivism, Law, Minority Rights,Violence against Women, Women Rights

In yet another instance of a baba proving to be a black sheep, the Charkop police have arrested a tantrik who had been posing as a do-gooder and getting a 16-year-old girl drunk and molesting her for several months. They have rescued three other girls, believed to be around 13 years old, who were also living with him.

Anil Bharate

According to the police, Anil Bharate (67) used to target girls from poor families and offer to give them a nice place to stay and pay for their education and other expenses. He would also offer to help out the families if they allowed him to ‘help’ their daughters.

Anil Bharate approached the poor girl’s family members, whom he knew well, and said he would pay for her education and other expenses. He convinced them to let her stay at his rented house in Virar

The family members of the 16-year-old survivor, who live in Kandivli, had been similarly tricked by Bharate, and they had allowed her to live with the tantrik in a flat that he had taken on rent in Virar. The girl’s family is very poor and they thought that Bharate really intended to help them out.

For the past few months, he had been giving the girl alcohol, claiming it was a health tonic. He would molest her and abuse her when she fell asleep

While Bharate did pay for the survivor’s education and other expenses, he began molesting her over the past few months. “Bharate was like my grandfather, but he wronged me. From the past few months, he used to come close to me and try to touch me inappropriately.

When Bharate gave her alcohol and molested her again on Sunday, the girl informed her mother, who took her to the Charkop police station to file a complaint the same night

I caught him touching me late at night many times, but he pretended to be asleep. For the past two months, he had been molesting me after making me drink alcohol,” the girl told the Charkop police in her statement. Bharate allegedly used to make the girl consume the alcohol by claiming that it was a tonic for good health.

Police arrested Bharate from his Virar flat yesterday. They realised that he had also kept three girls believed to around 13 years old at his flat in Kandivli, and rescued them. Illustrations/Amit Bandre

Police Sub-Inspector Anita Tonde of Charkop police station said, “The survivor’s mother had faith in the baba and allowed her daughter to stay with him in Virar. The accused would sleep next to the survivor in the flat and gave alcohol to her on several occasions.

Late at night, when the survivor was in deep sleep, he allegedly molested her and abused her.” “She realised what was happening on a few occasions, but she was not sure. On Sunday night, Bharate gave her alcohol and molested her again. This time, the survivor ran from the house and informed her mother about the incident.

The mother approached us the same night and we arrested the accused on Monday morning,” said an officer from Charkop police station.

Other girls
Bharate, who also has a flat in Pushp Mitra society in Kandivli (West), kept three minor girls from Latur there. The girls are believed to be about 13 years old, and he would take care of their education and other expenses as well.

The police suspect he had tricked their families into letting them come and live with him in Mumbai. PSI Tonde said, “We also found three 13-year-old girls from the accused’s Kandivli residence. We suspect that he had molested these girls as well. The three girls are from Latur and belong to poor families.

Number of girls that were rescued from his flat in Kandivli

Well-off
Cops said Anil Bharate is from a well-known and well-to-do family. While two of his daughters are in London, his son manages a construction business with his wife.

http://www.mid-day.com/articles/promising-a-better-life-tantrik-lured-poor-kids-and-molested-them/15891173

Stand up for a Hindu family in Norway, sign the petition

Norway is one of the nations looked up for best the civil conduct; however, they have failed to even study the culture of their inhabitants. Here Anurup and Sagarika Bhattacharaya fed their child with hands as is the custom in their home land, India, and had the kids sleep on their bed. The Norway government found that to be offensive and abusive and took the child away from the family.

It has happened in Dallas with an Albanian Muslim family, where the father had her little girl sit in his lap and watch the basketball game in school, and it was reported as an abuse.  The tragedy in both places would be if the child is passed on to a foster family who would raise the child in a different faith than what the child was shown in his or her formative years.

Please sign the petition; sign this petition or click the following link

http://www.change.org/petitions/ambassador-wegger-chr-strommen-reunite-indian-family-in-norway-feeding-children-by-hand-is-not-abuse

We have to stand with all those to whom injustice is met. Please do it now.

Thank you.

Mike Ghouse
Committed to cohesive societies.
www.MikeGhouse.net

India Human Rights Record

State Department's Human Rights Report for 2008 was issued this
week. The introduction is given below. Go to the link for the full
text.

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/sca/119134.htm

2008 Human Rights Reports: India
Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
2008 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices
February 25, 2009


India is a multiparty, federal, parliamentary democracy with a
bicameral parliament and a population of approximately 1.1 billion
with an active civil society. Manmohan Singh became prime minister
following his Congress Party-led coalition's victory in the 2004
general elections, which were considered free and fair, despite
scattered instances of violence. Serious internal conflicts affected
the states of Jammu and Kashmir, as well as several states in the
north and east. While civilian authorities generally maintained
effective control of the security forces, security forces occasionally
acted independently of government authority during incidents of
communal tensions in states such as Karnataka.

The government generally respected the rights of its citizens;
however, serious problems remained. Major problems included
extrajudicial killings of persons in custody, disappearances, and
torture and rape by police and other security forces. Investigations
into individual abuses and legal punishment for perpetrators occurred,
but for the majority of abuses, the lack of accountability created an
atmosphere of impunity. Poor prison conditions and lengthy detentions
during both pretrial and trial proceedings remained significant
problems. Officials used special antiterrorism legislation to justify
the excessive use of force. Corruption existed at all levels of
government and police. The government applied restrictions to the
travel and activities of visiting experts and scholars. Significant
restrictions remained on the funding and activities of NGOs.
Increasing attacks against religious minorities and the promulgation
of antireligious conversion laws were concerns. Violence associated
with caste-based discrimination occurred. Domestic violence, child
marriage, dowry-related deaths, honor crimes, female infanticide and
feticide remain serious problems. Trafficking in persons and
exploitation of indentured, bonded, and child labor were continuing
problems.

Separatist guerrillas and terrorists in Kashmir, the Northeast,
and the Naxalite belt committed numerous serious abuses, including
killing armed forces personnel, police, government officials, judges,
and civilians. Insurgents engaged in widespread torture, rape,
beheadings, kidnapping, and extortion; however, the number of
incidents declined compared to the previous year.

http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/hrrpt/2008/eap/119037.htm

Murderous Fatwa

Murderous Fatwa Condemned
Not acceptable to Muslims
Mike Ghouse March 19, 2007

A shadow organization, sounding similar to All India Muslim Personal Law board, has issued a decree against exiled Bangladeshi author Taslima Nasreen, who has been seeking Indian citizenship. A bounty of 5 Lakh Rupees has been offered to the one who murders her.

The government of India should prosecute Maulana Ashraf Khan for ordering Murder of another human being under IPC and punish him accordingly. The Qur'aan, the book that he believes in, does not authorize him to issue a death Fatwa against any one. The Qur'aan reminds in various ways: There is no compulsion in religion, to her is her faith and to him is his faith, and Killing a single life is like killing the whole humanity. “Qur’aan [6:104] Enlightenments have come to you from your Lord. As for those who can see, they do so for their own good, and those who turn blind, do so to their own detriment. I am not your guardian.” Maulana is not the protector of Religion.

Maulana Ashraf Khan is committing three crimes; the first one is acting God to kill another individual; acting against the Indian Penal Code in a civil society to murder another being and finally ruining the name of his religion more than Taslima Nasreen can ever do. She is not the only one who does Islam-bashing, there are several like her. That is the case with all religions, there will always be bad-mouthers, let them. Islam simply does not vanish by these; it has been around for 14 centuries and has probably seen 14,000 Nasreen’s since.
As an individual she has the right to express her opinions whether we agree or not, as much as the Maulana has a right to condemn her statements. I do exercise that right and condemn her irresponsible statements.

Ms. Nasreen is a bellyacher and not a reformer. A reformer brings solutions to the issues and presents his or her research and asks the scholars to review and build consensus for a gradual acceptance of the proposed ideas. Instead, she agitates and builds resentment and does exactly opposite of what she claims to do; reform. Her approach is wrong and her statements may please the Islam-bashers and earn some circulation. However, her opinion does not affect the world or the religion of Islam.

Maulana words do affect the perceptions of Islam; he is representative of an organization and was speaking in behalf of the organization which by name is representative of Muslims in India. He was claiming support of some 150 Imams and Scholars for his Fatwa, by implication all Muslims. We are making a statement to denounce this Fatwa, as it is not the will of Muslims, nor it is allowed in Qur’aan.

Issuing Fatwa is an act of deliberation, issued after painful investigations and not at some one's whims. That is arrogance and becoming God to judge and condemn people. It is simply not acceptable to the majority of Muslims of India and the world.
I urge Muslims to speak out against this Fatwa, and then I would ask all Muslims as individuals and groups to write to all the Newspapers in India to condemn the acts of this man and earnestly request the media to publish it.

To paraphrase a famous truth “It is not the evil committed by bad men that I worry; it is the silence of good men and women that worries me.”
-----

Mike Ghouse is an activist based in Dallas. He is president of the Foundation for Pluralism and the World Muslim Congress, organizations dedicated to peaceful coexistence. He can be reached at MikeGhouse@gmail.com. © copyright 2007 by Mike Ghouse.

Harassment of Hindu's

Harassment of Hindus in Kazakhstan

Dear Mr. Vineet Chander & Swami Nityananda Prabhu

Hare Krishna,

The Muslim community condemns this insane act of the Government of Kazakhstan, I will seek support from Muslim groups to take the necessary action. Please recommend the course of action we can take. Who should we write to? Who should we call? Is this a religious harassment? Please send us the details.

Umar, the 2nd Caliph, after conquering Jerusalem declined the offer from the bishop to pray in the Church of Holy sepulcher, and the reason he gave was that no Muslim in the future should attempt a claim on the church because the Caliph said his prayers. The Medina declaration signed by Prophet Muhammad and the various religious groups calls for respecting every place of worship and property rights of individuals. There are numerous examples of that, and of course innumerable violations as well. It is not the religion, it is always the bad guys who malign the religions. We need to knuckle down on the criminals for their double crime; i) destruction and ii) maligning a religion.

We are all in it together to create a better world for the human kind.

Mike Ghouse, President
(214) 325-1916
World Muslim Congress
www.WorldMuslimCongress.com
www.FoundationforPluralism.com


From: Vineet Chander vineetchander@yahoo.comSubject: Media Release: Hindus Bracing for Next Round of AttacksHere is a media release on the latest developments in the persecution of a Hindu minority in Kazakhstan. This might be something to pass along to SAJA members. Notably, the government's actions fly in the face of statements made by the U.S. Embassy, the OSCE, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, and the U.K. Parliament. Perhaps more notably, the Indian government has yet to issue a single public statement although the issue has been raised by several leading figures in parliament. Please feel free to contact me for further information

Sincerely,
Vineet Chander
Director of Communications (North America)
International Society for Krishna Consciousness ***

MEDIA RELEASE - ISKCON COMMUNICATIONS
HINDUS BRACING FOR NEXT ROUND OF ATTACKS

Kazakhstan continues aggression against minorities, ignores international outcry
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: February 5, 2007 Almaty – Impervious to international outcry, government officials in the Central Asian country of Kazakhstan have intensified their attacks against members of the Hare Krishna religion, a Vaishnava Hindu tradition. A local court ordered more homes belonging to the Krishna devotees to be demolished, the Associated Press reported, threatening to leave more families homeless in freezing temperatures at any moment. The latest court ruling, sanctioning the government to confiscate the Krishna land without compensation, came as a shock to members of the community.

According to a January 31 report by Forum 18, a religious rights watchdog group, the decision was rendered after the judge told Hare Krishna chairperson Viktor Golous that the case would be postponed and that he could leave. Incredulously, after Golous left the court, the judge ruled against him in his absence. Such questionable judicial practices have led many to conclude that the Hindus are being denied due process and targeted because of their faith.

“The issue at dispute has less to do with property rights than with the right of people living in Kazakhstan to exercise their religion freely,” International Helsinki Federation for Human Rights Executive Director Aaron Rhodes stated in an open letter. “Since the dispute started, Kazakh authorities have been reluctant to deal with the issue in a fair and unbiased manner.” The court order is the next step in what human rights organizations have labeled a land-grab by government officials against a religious minority.

In November 2006, several busloads of riot police and two bulldozers demolished thirteen homes owned by members of the Hare Krishna religion. The surprise attack evoked outrage from the worldwide Hindu community, and elicited statements of concern from the U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan, the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom.

In the United Kingdom, Parliament passed an Early Day Motion condemning the harassment of Hindus in Kazakhstan and calling upon Kazakh President Nazarbayev to intervene. British Prime Minister Tony Blair echoed Parliament members’ concerns during his Question Time, assuring them that he would continue to push the Kazakhstan government to protect religious rights.

Kazakhstan’s mistreatment of Hindus and other religious minorities was a key reason the country was refused its bid to chair the OSCE in 2009. “[S]tate sponsored action has been focused upon members of the Hare Krishna community in a manner that suggests they have been targeted on the basis of their religious affiliation,” the OSCE Advisory Council on Freedom of Religion or Belief said in a statement they released, adding that it “calls upon the Kazakh authorities to halt any further demolitions and to extend immediate humanitarian assistance to those whose homes have been destroyed.” In light of the Kazakh government’s latest moves against the Krishna community, that call seems to have fallen on deaf ears.

# # # BACKGROUNDER

The following are excerpts from statements raising concerns about the Kazakhstan government’s aggression against the Hare Krishna community in Almaty. “The embassy has several concerns regarding the legal basis for the actions against the Hare Krishna community. Regardless of the merits of the underlying case, the forceful eviction of homeowners in freezing temperatures and the destruction of their possessions, contradicted principles of due process and fairness.

The embassy urges the Karasai district authorities to refrain from any further aggressive actions against the Hare Krishnas, and to work toward a fair, lawful, and peaceful resolution of the ongoing legal dispute.” (U.S. Embassy in Kazakhstan)

“From the information available to the Advisory Council, it appears that state sponsored action has been focused upon members of the Hare Krishna community in a manner that suggests they have been targeted on the basis of their religious affiliation. In the view of the Advisory Council, this raises serious issues regarding the enjoyment of the freedom of religion and belief by members of the Hare Krishna community in Kazakhstan.” (The OSCE Advisory Council on Freedom of Religion or Belief)

“Recent steps against the Hare Krishnas and members of other religious communities indicate that the government of Kazakhstan, regrettably, is moving in the wrong direction with regard to respecting the universal right to freedom of religion or belief. This action against the Hare Krishna community is the latest in a series of developments over the past two years that signal a retreat from Kazakhstan’s previously positive record of respect for the right to religious freedom.”

(The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom) “While President Nazarbayev’s initiative to bring world religions together to promote tolerance is laudable, his government’s harsh treatment of small and independent groups displays a sad absence of tolerance. In short, I do not believe these actions befit a country that would be a leader of nations. I urge President Nazarbayev and the Government of Kazakhstan to end these practices, withdraw the court cases to seize the Hare Krishna’s land, and ensure that all individuals are compensated for their lost property.”

(The Hon. Christopher H. Smith, New Jersey) “That this House, prior to the visit of the President of Kazakhstan, condemns the harassment of and discrimination against Hindu minorities in Kazakhstan… and further calls upon the President to order the Karasai District Hakimat to have all cases against the Kazakh Hindus withdrawn… and to stop harassment of Hindus in Kazakhstan.”

(The United Kingdom Parliament, Early Day Motion No. 140)

For more information about the persecution of religious minorities in Kazakhstan visit: www.KazakhKrishna.com
www.Forum18.org

Harassment of Ahmedi's

Harassment of Ahmedi's in Saudi Arabia

The Saudi Arabian Government is apparently scared of people who practice their faith differently. They are violating all the basic humans rights of individuals to pray. Today it is Ahmediyya, tomorrow, it would be Shia, then it would be a Sunni and then any non-Wahhabis. Wait a minute, then some one who does not belong to their family.....

These self-proclaimed rulers think they are in it for life and they don't spare any one of their impositions. Any regime that becomes unjust, will pay for it sooner or later. Saudi Arabian regime is on the way to self destruct. They are messing with Shia Muslims, and now harassing the Ahmedi's. Shah of Iran thought he was there for eternity, then there was another one who called himself President for Life. Saddam Hussein is gone and there were many more of them once.

When despots push people, people will take it for a short while. Then comes a revolt and an end to un-just rulers. No tyrant has ever survived.

In the interest of stability and continuance of security for Mecca and Medina, which Muslims revere, I hope the Saudi's will start practicing Justice, and quit harassing people. Last year, they stopped a Hindu from praying in his own apartment, and "told" him to quit in the middle of his prayer. That was wrong, and it is dead wrong for them to harass the Ahmadi's.

May we understand what No compulsion means.

Mike Ghouse

Letter to Saudi King Abdullah bin Abd al-'Aziz Al Sa'ud /
Regarding the Religious Persecution of Ahmadis January 24, 2007

Your Majesty, We write to urge you to put an immediate end to Saudi Arabia's nationwide campaign to round up followers of the Ahmadi faith who have committed no crime. The campaign appears organized and designed to detain and deport all Ahmadis in Saudi Arabia because of their religious belief.

Saudi Arabia has so far arrested 56 non-Saudi followers of the Ahmadi faith, including infants and young children, and deported at least 8 to India and Pakistan. All of those arrested face deportation as soon as a flight becomes available. All but two are legally in the country, mostly long-term residents of Saudi Arabia, and have not been charged with a crime. Many other Ahmadis in Saudi Arabia, a small community of foreign workers in the country primarily from India and Pakistan, are reportedly in hiding or have left the country voluntarily for their own safety. On Friday, December 29, 2006, more than 50 members of the Saudi religious police together with regular policemen arrested 49 non-Saudi Ahmadis meeting at a privately rented guest house in Jeddah, where they were relaxing after prayers on the Muslim day of rest. On January 5, 6 and 8, 2007, Saudi security forces arrested 5 more foreign Ahmadis in Jeddah and Jubail and attempted to detain the leader of the Saudi Ahmadi chapter in Dammam, but he was out of the country at the time.

"We met at the rented guest house once or twice a month and had done so for many months," one former detainee in Jeddah said. Many arrested Ahmadis had been working in Saudi Arabia for years, some for more than 20 years. According to one released detainee, after the religious police arrested the group of Ahmadis in Jeddah, they transferred them to the Tamir local police station, where the men and the boys spent one night sleeping under guard in an open veranda. The police did not interrogate them, but made the adults sign forms in Arabic they did not understand, he said. Saudi authorities then moved the adults and children to Buraiman Prison, where they held them along with about 400 convicted criminals for 12 days and provided meager and poor quality food. Their Saudi visa sponsors managed to get all but four released pending their deportation.

Among the children were an 8-month-old infant and 13 other children ranging from 2 to 14 years of age. One of the detainees interviewed by Human Rights Watch said that he pleaded with his sponsor to help arrange the release of his children from the detention center; subsequently, plainclothes policemen moved his children from the adult jail to a Social Observation Home, a juvenile detention center for children between the ages of 12 and 18 accused or convicted of a crime. Officials at the Observation Home, however, sent the children back to the prison, since they had no grounds to hold them.

Saudi authorities never charged the Ahmadis with a crime, but apparently arrested them under orders of Minister of Interior Prince Nayef, because of their faith. According to the former detainee in Jeddah, the only time officials mentioned possible wrongdoing came at the time of the arrest, when a member of the religious police reportedly said, "You need a permit to pray here." He also reported that an officer at the Jeddah police station told the detainees that their arrest was due to their Ahmadi faith. One Ahmadi, Mr. Abd al-Sami, whom the secret police (intelligence) arrested in Jubail on January 8 and deported to Pakistan on January 18, told Human Rights Watch that his intelligence interrogator demanded to know, "How many people of your group are in other cities and who are they?" The interrogator then questioned him about specific names.

Another former detainee in Jeddah told Human Rights Watch that his arresting officers said they had specific orders from Prince Nayef. According to the former detainee in Jeddah, when the sponsors of some of the detainees tried to obtain their release from prison, officials reportedly told them, "There is an order from Nayef, so don't come to try to release them." Abd al-Sami, the Ahmadi man arrested in Jubail, also said that his interrogator told him straight away that "You must be gone" and that when his employer attempted to get him released, the intelligence official told him "I have a letter from high up in the Ministry [of Interior] saying these people must be deported."

International human rights law protects the freedom of religion, including the "freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance" (Article 18, Universal Declaration of Human Rights, UDHR). The Saudi government's arrest and detention of members of the Ahmadi community solely on the basis of their religion is a grave violation of this right. Saudi government officials assured the United States government in July2006 that the kingdom would respect the right to private worship. In response, the United States chose not to impose sanctions for Saudi violations of religious freedom. In addition, some of the arrests also violate Saudi Arabia's obligations under the Convention on the Rights of the Child (CRC), which obligates Saudi Arabia to "take all appropriate measures to ensure that the child is protected against all forms of discrimination or punishment on the basis of the status, activities, expressed opinions, or beliefs of the child's parents…" The Convention also requires the detention of juveniles be the last resort (Article 37(b)).

International human rights standards also require the separation of convicted prisoners from unconvicted detainees. "Persons in detention shall be subject to treatment appropriate to their unconvicted status. Accordingly, they shall, whenever possible, be kept separate from imprisoned persons" (Principle 8 of the Body of Principles for the Protection of All Persons under Any Form of Detention or Imprisonment, 1988). The detentions of the Ahmadis without charge or means of appeal ignore basic norms of due process, guaranteed under international human rights law: "No one shall be subjected to arbitrary arrest, detention or exile" (Article 9, UDHR). "Everyone is entitled in full equality to a fair and public hearing by an independent and impartial tribunal, in the determination of his rights and obligations and of any criminal charge against him (Article 10, UDHR). By detaining the Ahmadis and their children along in a prison with common criminals Saudi authorities breached their obligations under international law. An Indian diplomat Human Rights Watch spoke to said consular officials had visited Ahmadi detainees of Indian nationality, but Pakistani and Syrian diplomats never looked after their nationals, according to a former detainee. (One Ahmadi detainee is Syrian.)

Ahmadis consider themselves a Muslim sect founded by Mirza Ghulam Ahmad in the 19th century. However, many Muslims view the Ahmadi faith as heretic due to the elevated status it affords to its founder. Ahmadis view themselves as Muslims, but have been legally declared non-Muslims in certain countries, such as Pakistan. There are approximately 20 million followers of the Ahmadi faith in the world, most in India, Pakistan, Ghana Burkina Faso, and Gambia. Your Majesty, Human Rights Watch calls on your government to end the campaign of religious persecution of Ahmadis.

The government should release all persons detained in this campaign, stop their deportation and readmit those already deported. Saudi Arabia should publicly commit and respect freedom of religion and freedom to peacefully assemble and pray with others, and it should bring those responsible for instigating and participating in religious persecution to justice. We thank you in advance for your attention to this urgent matter.

Sincerely,

Sarah Leah Whitson
Executive Director
Middle East & North Africa Division
Human Rights Watch