Hindu Americans Join Chorus Against Religious Intolerance

By Hindu American Foundation,

Washington, D.C. (September 9, 2010) - The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) added its own voice today against what it described as mounting evidence of religious intolerance in the United States. While Sikhs and Hindus have recently faced their share of hate attacks, the Muslim community is being singled out as 9/11 approaches, Foundation leaders asserted.  HAF pointed to the slashing of a Muslim taxi driver, vandalism of mosques and the threatened burning of their holy book, the Quran, as attacks on this country’s religious pluralism that must be countered.

 

“No religious community should ever be subjected to the hate and intolerance Muslims are facing today in the United States,” said Suhag Shukla, Esq, the Foundation’s Managing Director. “It may be legal to burn any book, but holding a public rally to burn another religion’s holy text is the epitome of bigotry.  We join Muslim Americans in standing strongly against such terrorism and violence and should join together in promoting a pluralistic society where we all can worship and share ideas freely."

 

Shukla added that the Florida pastor’s threat to burn Qurans should not be seen as reflective of the majority of Americans and more importantly, as provocation. “Any violent reaction will only legitimize this one man’s ignorance.  We must see it for what it is -- a crass display that reminds all of us of the long road we must travel together to eradicate prejudice and promote understanding.”

 

Just last week, the HAF expressed similar concern over the vandalism to a mosque in Madera, California and other similar incidents directed towards Muslim Americans.

 

“The recent hate crimes signal an alarming trend towards a divided America,” said Jay Kansara, HAF’s Associate Director. “We stand with all Americans, regardless of faith or no faith, who want to prosper in this country and contribute to the greater good of their communities. We need to reevaluate our beliefs so they encompass understanding, tolerance and pluralism, values that are necessary to build a better America.”