We request you to support and take this process forward for a successful campaign against the Anti-Conversion Laws in India. As far as Karnataka is concerned, we have time till the 14th of this month. The Anti-Conversion Bill will be tabled on 14th in the Upper House in Karnataka. Therefore, if we can cooperate and unitedly work on this issue, perhaps we can make an impact. Our target is to achieve one lakh signatures by14th.
Please do whatever you can do within your reach. Warm regards, K.P. Sasi ................................................................... Karnataka State has passed the Anti-Conversion Bill in the Legislative Assembly, despite stiff opposition from all opposition parties. It can not become a law unless it is passed in the upper house. They have announced that it would be tabled on the 14th of this month. The secular and human rights forces have barely ten days to strengthen this campaign. Kindly endorse this campaign, circulate and share among your friends, organisations, media friends and social media networks. *National Solidarity Forum India started this petition to The President of India* *REPEAL ANTI-CONVERSION LAWS!* *They undermine India’s Constitution, Secular Heritage and Human Rights* We, the citizens of secular and democratic India, are shocked to witness the moves of the state governments ruled by the BJP and other political parties, targeting Christians, Muslims, Dalits, Adivasis and Hindu women using Anti-Conversion Laws in India. Hindutva elements in various parties, and specially those evolving from the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh and the Hindu Mahasabha, successfully lobbied hard to enact the first Anti-Conversion Law in Odisha in 1967, followed by nine other states in India. These include Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Rajasthan, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Arunachal Pradesh. In Tamil Nadu, the then All India Anna DMK party, Ms J. Jayalalitha enacted such a law, but withdrew it following a strong protest in the state. Wherever the Anti-Conversion law, ironically officially called Freedom of Religion Act, was passed, it became a justification for the persecution of the minorities and other marginalized identities. The attacks on the minorities grew sharply in recent years since this law was tweaked and used as a weapon targeting the dignity of Christians and Muslims. The latest debate on Anti-conversion Law is in the state of Karnataka today, where resistance is building up to ensure that the Bill passed in the Legislative Assembly, does not become law. For the Hindutva forces, the Anti-Conversion Law as a path towards establishing a Hindu Rashtra in India which would disenfranchise Muslims and Christians, converting the democratic secular republic into a theocratic and xenophobic state. Impact on Dalits, Adivasis and Women It is not just Muslims and Christians, the primary targets, this law has existential implications for Dalits, Adivasis, and some sections of the Hindu community. It also targets women’s sexual and social freedom. Any Dalit who chooses to convert to Christianity or Islam constitutional provisions of reservations in government employment, as also in educational institutions. More critically, she or he loses the protection under the Anti-untouchability laws. Current laws all accept conversions to Sikhism, Buddhism or Jainism, as legitimate and with continuing benefits of reservations which they had under the Hindu faith. Anyone who does choose to join a new religion is now required to prove that he or she was not converted by force, or coercion, inducement or allurement. These laws are far more draconian than they look at first sight. They target Christianity and Islam They encourage a return to Hinduism. But at the grassroots, they put coercive pressure on Dalits and Adivasis to not profess Christianity or Islam. Coercion and blackmail are implicit in the notorious Article 341 Part 3, which is immediately evoked to take away their rights of reservation and protection. In effect, a Dalit forced by the State to remain in Hinduism. For Islam and Christianity, it means that while they can personally profess their religion, they no longer have the right to propagate their faith. This goes against Article 25 in the Constitution of India which says people have the “Freedom of conscience and free profession, practice and propagation of religion”. Not only does it discriminate against the Christian and Islamic religions, it undermines the secular foundations of the Constitution which treats all religions equally. Since 2019, this notorious law has also targeted women, taking away their agency in the most personal of issues of their sexuality, and criminalising their choice of a Muslim or Christian as a life partner. Women now require government approval to marry a Muslim or a Christian. The woman risk physical harm and social disgrace as even distant relatives can move the law against an intended inter-faith marriage. The man she chose will be arrested for a non-bailable offence. In Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh, the law is being used to prevent interfaith couples from getting married. Hindutva forces are using this law to target the Muslims, rousing communal and sectarian passions against what politician have called `Love Jihad.’ Is Anti-Conversion Law Necessary? It needs to be underscored that such laws were created as political expediency and for appeasing majority vote banks during elections. Till recent months when it was used in several states against Muslim men, the law was used just for harassing Christian pastors and teachers or principals of academic institutions. Arrests were few and far between. State government has not been able to adduce any data or evidence to justify the laws. The core, and patronising, argument that underpins all such laws is that the Dalit or the poor has no agency and no understanding, in matters of religion. In all other matters including the right to vote and choose his political representatives to local governments and to Parliament, he or she is deemed to be of sound mind and judgement. This is highly insulting to the intellect and wisdom of India’s Dalits and its poor who have been kept suppressed by social force under the caste system and implemented by threats of force or threat of punishment. The Indian Penal Code has all too many provisions to address crimes of cheating, bribing and issues such as attempts to disrupt harmony between communities, or creating ill-will among various sections of society. Anti-Conversion Law - A Violation of Indian Constitution Top jurists of the country have held this law to be totally in violation of the right to profess, practice and propagate one’s faith. Babasaheb Ambedkar, who chaired the Drafting Committee of the Constitution in the Constituent Assembly, and several subcommittees which discussed issues of the rights of citizens, discussed these issues threadbare before putting them in the statutes. The Indian constitution provides six broader fundamental rights. Everyone is equal and has equal rights and freedom without discrimination before the law (Art 14-18) & (Art 19-22). The State provides freedom of conscience and right to profess, practice and propagate religion (Art 25-28) as well as cultural & educational rights for the religious minorities (Art 29-30). It is right to equality, freedom, and non-discrimination for every citizen. The anti-conversion laws violate international covenants and instruments where India is a signatory. Articles 1, 18 & 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR), Articles 18 &19 of International Covenants on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the Articles 2 & 3 of UN Declaration on Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief spell this out clearly and categorically For the people of India, the anti-conversion laws discriminate against Christianity and Islam against all other religions, creating an environment of exclusion, hospitality and encouraging targeted hate and physical violence against persons and institutions. We, from the National Solidarity Forum, are convinced that such discriminatory laws should have no space in a democratic society like India. We realize the need for larger involvement of all secular and democratic people to support the campaign for the withdrawal of such laws. And, therefore, we appeal to all those who respect human rights, dignity, peace, harmony, and justice to endorse this statement against the Anti-Conversion Laws in India. Together, let us join hands to defend the values enshrined in the Indian Constitution and protection of human rights of the minorities and other marginalized sections in India. Issued by National Solidarity Forum (NSF) The National Solidarity Forum (NSF), a network which emerged soon after Kandhamal genocide, has been active during the last 13 years. Many actions followed with the initiative of this forum, with a primary objective to maintain justice, peace and harmony and to protect the Indian Constitution and secular/democratic values. Initial signatories: Admiral L Ramdas, Former Chief of Naval Staff of the Indian Navy Anand Patwardhan, Film Maker Annie Raja, National Federation of Indian Women A C Michael, Former Member of Delhi Minorities Commission, Govt. of NCT of Delhi Ajaya Kumar Singh, Co-convener, NSF Arundhati Dhuru, National Alliance of People's Movements Brinelle Dsouza, Core team member, NSF Debaranjan Sarangi, Columnist and Documentary Film Maker, Odisha Dhirendra Panda, Coordinator, NSF Dr. Goldy M. George, Activist, Author, Academician Dr. John Dayal, Founder Member, NSF Dr. Ram Puniyani, Convener, National Solidarity Forum (NSF) Gauhar Raza, Scientist and Poet Harsh Mander, Author and Social activist Irfan Engineer, CSSS & NSF Javed Anand, Jjournalist and Civil rights activist K. Satchidanandan, Poet, Literary Critic, Former Secretary of Sahitya Akademi K.P. Sasi, Co-Convener, NSF Kavita Krishnan, AIPWA Kedar Mishra, Senior Journalist, Odisha Lalita Ramdas, Peace, Human Rights anti nuclear Activist Mallika Sarabhai, Accomplished dancer & choreographer Mani Shankar Aiyar, Former Minister Margaret Alva, Former Governor of Goa. Gujarat, Rajasthan and Uttarkhand Medha Patekar, Narmada Bachao Andolan, National Alliance of People's Movements Prafulla Samantara, Awardee of the Goldman Environmental Prize in 2017 Pritam Singh, Professor Emeritus, Oxford Brookes Business School, Oxford. Prof. Hiren Gohain, Academician, Literary Critic Prof. Kancha Ilaiah Shepherd, Writer, Acamedician Rakesh Sharma, Film Maker Rev. Dr. Peter Machado, Archbishop of Bangalore. Sandeep Pandey, General Secretary, Socialist Party (India) Shabnam Hashmi, ANHAD Sudhir Patnaik, Editor, `Samaddrusti' Odia Weekly Sushmit Bose, Musician Tapan Bose, Film Maker Teesta Setalvad, Advocate, Civil rights Activist and Journalist Tehmina Arora, ADF India Vidya Dinkar, Core team member, NSF Wilfred D’Costa, Founder Member, NSF William Stanley, Founder Member, NSF Those who wish to support the campaign can endorse it through this link: https://www.change.org/p/the-president-of-india-repeal-anti-conversion-laws-defend-india-s-constitution-secular-ethos-and-human-rights?recruiter=1251507899&recruited_by_id=7c296f30-8579-11ec-882e-a3cbd6c43b83&utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=copylink&utm_campaign=psf_combo_share_message&utm_term=16b026f6bdfb48e6b59ec6aa76307125 https://countercurrents.org/2022/02/signature-campaign-citizens-demand-repeal-of-anti-conversion-laws-in-india/ On Mon, Dec 6, 2021 at 3:21 AM KP Sasi <[email protected]> wrote: > > > > *INVITATION: **NATIONAL WEBINAR 'THREAT TO FREEDOM OF RELIGION – A > CASE OF KARNATAKA' * > > *on 9th Dec at 5 – 7 PM* > > *Organised by: National Solidarity Forum* > > > > Dear Friend, > > > > The Karnataka Government has pthat the Anti-Conversion Bill in Karnataka > will be ready by December 5, to be tabled in the next session of the > Legislative > Assembly beginning from December 13. There is no sufficient time given > for any public on such a crucial Bill. In this context, the National > Solidarity Forum is organizing a National Webinar on `Freedom of Religion – > A Case Study on Karnataka’. > > > > The National Solidarity Forum consists of over 50 organizations and 30 > individuals at a national level. It has people from all religions and also > those who are not part of any religion. Initially, the forum started in > 2009 as a response to the Kandhamal genocide in Odisha. From that time > onwards, many significant activities of national and state-level activities > were initiated by the National Solidarity Forum, upholding secular values > enshrined in the Indian Constitution. The proposed Webinar on the Anti- > Conversion Bill is a continuation of such a process. > > The Anti-Conversion Bill is primarily targeted against minorities. The > first Anti-Conversion Law was passed in Orissa in 1967. The attacks on the > Christians began from the 70s onwards, culminating in the Kandhamal > genocide in 2007 and 2008. The law gave a justification for the attacks on > the Christians. After Odisha, the Anti-Conversion Law was passed in 8 other > states in India. In all these states, this law was used to persecute not > only the Christians but also the Muslims. Today, there is enough > documentation to show that persecution of Christians is taking place in > every state and every union territory in India. The proposed law will only > make the situation worse. > > > > The Bill is meant to strengthen the propaganda by the Hindutva forces that > Christians are converting by force and lure. Since the Indian Constitution > has taken a very clear stand on this issue, there is no additional need for > another Bill. The Bill does not recognize that faith is a personal affair > that cannot easily be forced upon anybody. It also violates the basic > tenets of religious freedom in the Indian Constitution. > > > > Even International Forums have taken note of the increase of persecution > of Christians in India. In 2020, the US Commission on International > Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to `Countries of Particular Concern) in their > report. The US State Department ranked India’s persecution as severe along > with Iraq and Afghanistan. During the past seven years, India has fallen > from No 31 to 10 in persecution. The report says: `The Christians are > persecuted in all areas of public and private life, and anti-conversion > laws (currently in nine states, with more considering adoption) are abused > to harass and intimidate Christians. Few people are actually convicted > under these laws, but cases can drag on for years. > > These international observations are also a matter of high concern for the > status of Secular India. It is in this context that the National Solidarity > Forum is announcing a zoom meeting on ‘*Threat to Freedom of Religion – A > Case of Karnataka’ *on 9th December at 5 PM. > > The details of the speakers are: > > · *Moderator: * > > Dr. Ram Puniyani, Convenor, National Solidarity Forum > > · *Inaugural Speech: * > > Adv. Colin Gonsalves, Designate Senior Advocate, Supreme Court > > · *Panellists:* > > 1) Bishop Dr. Peter Machado, Archbishop, Archdiocese of Bangalore > > 2) Ms.Tehmina Arora, Lawyer practicing in the area of constitutional > law and human rights with a special emphasis on minority rights and > religious freedom > > 3) Adv. BT Venkatesh Bubberjung, Former State Public Prosecutor, > Senior Lawyer, Karnataka High Court > > 4) Mr.Javed Anand, Journalist, and civil rights activist who founded > the Mumbai-based Sabrang Communications > > 5) Ms.Vidya Dinkar, Bangalore based Eminent Social Activist > > 6) Fr. Ajaya Kumar Singh, Social Activist, Conferred with Minority > Rights Day Award by the National Commission for Minorities > > 7) Ms. Cyntia Stephen, Dalit Rights Activist, writer, social policy > researcher, and an independent journalist > > 8) Mr.Rajasekharan, Bureau Chief, Lankesh Patrika, and Director, > Vidya Liberation Through Cultural Action, Karnataka > > · *Valedictory Speech: * > > Dr.John Dayal, Senior Journalist, and Human Rights Activist > > The zoom meeting will begin from 5 pm to 7 pm on December 9, 2021. Please > find the Zoom link for the Webinar: > > Time: Dec 9, 2021, 05:00 PM Mumbai, Kolkata, New Delhi > > https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81839146668?pwd=WEFManZlRDRpV00waHNQeTl0S3BFQT09 > > Meeting ID: 818 3914 6668; Passcode: NSF123 > > We invite you to participate in it and we also request you to share this > invitation with friends who may be interested in attending it. > > Dr.Ram Puniyani, > > Convener, National Solidarity Forum > > K.P.Sasi, > > Co-Convenor, National Solidarity Forum > > Cell: 8593835669 > > Ajaya Kumar Singh, > > Co-Convenor, National Solidarity Forum > > Cell: 8917666294 > > -- > > > > > *Dhirendra Panda* > *Convener, Civil Society Forum on Human Rights (CSFHR),* > *Secretary, Centre for the Sustainable use of Natural and Social Resources > (CSNR)* > *L-179, Nandan Enclave, Nandan Vihar, Bhubaneswar-751024, Odisha, India* > *Cell: +91 9437385757* > *Email: [email protected] <[email protected]>* > *Skype: dhirendra_panda* > > 'I do not agree with what you have to say, but I'll defend to the death > your right to say it.' > Beatrice Evelyn Hall (for Voltaire) > __________ Peoples Media Advocacy & Resource Centre- PMARC has been initiated with the support from group of senior journalists, social activists, academics and intellectuals from Dalit and civil society to advocate and facilitate Dalits issues in the mainstream media. 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