Islamic leaders in Nepal: religious minorities unite against extremism and repression
by Kalpit Parajuli
Returning from a pilgrimage to Mecca, the Muslim leaders open to cooperation with Christians and Buddhists. Maoist Government accused of not doing anything to defend the rights of religious minorities.
Kathmandu (AsiaNews) - Nepal's Muslim religious leaders are asking Christians, Buddhists and the whole Islamic community to work together against the suppression of minorities by the state. This is shown by a meeting with leading Islamic authorities, which took place in recent days in Mecca during the Hajj pilgrimage to Mecca.
S. Khatun, president of the National Islamic Women stresses that the government of Nepal has no intention of granting rights to minorities. The State is implementing a policy of silent repression, leaving crimes against religious communities unpunished and ignoring threats by Hindu extremists. "During the Hajj - he says - our leaders have requested the support of the Islamic Community, who recommended we create bonds of solidarity with other religious minorities in the country."
The Islamic community has for years denounced the abandonment of the institutions, that often underestimate the threat of Hindu extremist groups. secretary of the Islamic Federation of Nepal Faizan Ahmed was killed by two unknown as he left the mosque in Kathmandu on September 26. To date, investigations are still pending. The police has given priority to investigating the internal strife of the Islamic community, excluding the extremist track.
Nazrul Hussein, president of the Islamic Federation of Nepal emphasizes the urgency of solidarity between minorities to assert their rights. The Muslim leader, who is also secretary of the National Interreligious Committee, notes that "the majority of Hindu leaders are not against the rights of minorities. It is only the lunatic fringe, often driven by economic and political interests. "
In recent years the country's Christian and Muslim communities have often been the target of Hindu extremism, sectarian and linked to the ancient absolute monarchy. On 26 April 2008, Birabtnagar, a bomb planted by the Nepal Defense Army (NDA) exploded in the local mosque. The toll was two dead and dozens injured. In April 2009 a bomb instead targeted the Catholic Cathedral of Kathmandu, killing three people.
S. Khatun, president of the National Islamic Women stresses that the government of Nepal has no intention of granting rights to minorities. The State is implementing a policy of silent repression, leaving crimes against religious communities unpunished and ignoring threats by Hindu extremists. "During the Hajj - he says - our leaders have requested the support of the Islamic Community, who recommended we create bonds of solidarity with other religious minorities in the country."
The Islamic community has for years denounced the abandonment of the institutions, that often underestimate the threat of Hindu extremist groups. secretary of the Islamic Federation of Nepal Faizan Ahmed was killed by two unknown as he left the mosque in Kathmandu on September 26. To date, investigations are still pending. The police has given priority to investigating the internal strife of the Islamic community, excluding the extremist track.
Nazrul Hussein, president of the Islamic Federation of Nepal emphasizes the urgency of solidarity between minorities to assert their rights. The Muslim leader, who is also secretary of the National Interreligious Committee, notes that "the majority of Hindu leaders are not against the rights of minorities. It is only the lunatic fringe, often driven by economic and political interests. "
In recent years the country's Christian and Muslim communities have often been the target of Hindu extremism, sectarian and linked to the ancient absolute monarchy. On 26 April 2008, Birabtnagar, a bomb planted by the Nepal Defense Army (NDA) exploded in the local mosque. The toll was two dead and dozens injured. In April 2009 a bomb instead targeted the Catholic Cathedral of Kathmandu, killing three people.
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