IAMC Is Coming to the Annual ISNA Convention in Houston
Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India’s pluralist and tolerant ethos, invites you to a session on the ‘Challenges to Democracy, Constitution, and Rule of Law in India’ on Sunday, 1st September, 2019 (3:45 PM to 5:00 PM in Room 382B) at the ISNA Convention in Houston, TX.
India’s ruling party, BJP (BharatiyaJanta Party), espouses an ultranationalist and supremacist ideology known as Hindutva. This virulent ideology (distinct from the religion of Hinduism) seeks to expand the existing hegemony of upper-caste Hindus, intensify the ongoing horrendous persecution of Muslims and other minorities and relegate them to the status of second-class citizens. It is this ideology that is responsible for the mob violence, lynching, unconstitutionally revoking Article 370 (in Kashmir), challenging the Citizenship of Muslims (in Assam), and creating a toxic environment in India, which is not only perilous for Muslims but for Hindus, Christians and Dalits too. Critics say that these moves are aimed to make India a Hindu nation.
The increasing level of persecution of Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis (indigenous tribes), Sikhs, and Christians in India is documented by Human Rights organizations such as Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom. Many major newspapers of the US and other Western countries have published extensive reports and countless editorials on this subject. Being unaware of these realities amounts to shirking our responsibilities as human beings and as Muslims.
IAMC is working on multiple fronts to confront this hateful ideology, including grassroots awareness, coalition building, political outreach, judicial outreach, and media advocacy.
We urge you to come and attend this important session, get educated, sign up to volunteer, and see how you can help us in our quest to:
- Advocate at the highest levels in the US to inform and educate lawmakers for the inclusion of Human Rights and Religious Freedom in US-India strategic dialogue.
- Defend and uphold the Indian Constitution and rule of law in India, including restoration of Article 370 and ending the massive repression in Kashmir.
- Deter Hindutva groups from launching a genocide in India.
- Campaign to get Hindutva declared as a racist and supremacist ideology.
- Urge American Muslim leaders and activists to engage members of Congress and ask them to unequivocally condemn the RSS just as Muslims condemn ISIS.
- Prosecute and hold accountable perpetrators of religious freedom and human rights violations, including those who incite violence using hateful rhetoric, both in India and internationally.
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