Bangladesh Minorities: Johnnie Moore, the former Commissioner of USCIRF expressed concern over the global silence on the persecution of minorities in Bangladesh
Our Bureau
Dhaka/New York/Geneva
The International Society for Krishna Consciousness (ISKCON) on Thursday expressed solidarity with priest Chinmoy Krishna Das, who was arrested on charges of sedition for allegedly raising a flag on a stand displaying Bangladesh’s national flag. In a post on X, ISKCON, Inc. stated, “ISKCON, Inc. stands with Chinmoy Krishna Das. Our prayers to Lord Krishna for the protection of all these devotees.”
Chinmoy Krishna Das Brahmachari was arrested on charges of sedition for allegedly raising a flag on a stand displaying Bangladesh’s national flag. He was presented before a Chittagong court on Tuesday, which denied his bail plea and remanded him in custody.
The arrest has sparked widespread outrage, with many demanding his immediate release. In a related development, a lawyer filed a petition seeking a ban on ISKCON in Bangladesh, labelling it a “radical organization” that engages in activities aimed at inciting communal unrest, according to local media reports.
Earlier, the former Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina condemned the “unjust” arrest of Das and called for his immediate release. Hasina also voiced concerns about attacks on minorities and their places of worship, urging the authorities to ensure religious freedom and the safety of all communities.
“A senior leader of the Sanatan religious community has been unjustly arrested, and I demand his immediate release. Temples have been set ablaze in Chittagong. Previously, mosques, shrines, churches, monasteries, and homes belonging to the Ahmadiyya community have been attacked, vandalized, looted, and burned. Religious freedom and the safety of all communities must be guaranteed,” Sheikh Hasina said in a statement.
Recently, a group of retired judges, bureaucrats, and a sitting MP sent a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging him to intervene and address the rising violence and discrimination against Hindus in Bangladesh.
Meanwhile, Johnnie Moore, the former Commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), expressed concern over the global silence on the persecution of minorities in Bangladesh.
Moore said, “Human rights organizations and religious freedom organizations sought to raise their voices every second right. I think that a lot of times the Hindu community, when they are persecuted around the world, unfortunately, fewer people speak up about it. I’m committing to doing the exact opposite. I’m calling for the world’s human rights and religious freedom organizations to do the same”.
“When Muhammad Yunus came in as the interim leader of the country, he made promises related to democracy, the rule of law, and all of these values that are cherished by the West and our international institutions. This is a moment of existential threat not only for the minorities of Bangladesh but for the entire country. It is a call to advocate for human rights and religious freedom to speak up,” he added.
Moore also said that the present US administration under Joe Biden hadn’t paid enough attention to Bangladesh and this would change under Trump.
“I am astonished that the current administration hasn’t been paying more attention to Bangladesh. But the fact of the matter is, that one of the reasons why there’s going to be a change of administration in the United States in just a few weeks is because the foreign policy of this administration has not paid attention to a lot of issues. That’s why there are more than 50 conflicts all around the world, more since World War II. But I can also tell you this, Donald Trump is coming to town in Washington DC and he’s coming to town with an incredible team of advocates for American values, that view countries like India as indispensable allies in shaping the future of the world,” he said.
Also, the All-Minorities Association of Bangladesh held a protest at the iconic Broken Chair monument in front of the United Nations Office in Geneva on Thursday.
Protestors across different faiths–Hindus, Christians, Buddhists, and Ahmadi Muslims–were joined by Swiss nationals who demonstrated solidarity with the cause.
The demonstrators voiced their concerns over the ongoing atrocities in Bangladesh under the caretaker government.
The protestors alleged systematic violence targeting minorities, resulting in the loss of lives, destruction of property, and widespread human rights abuses. Protesters called for a secular and inclusive Bangladesh that respects Bengali identity and culture, reflecting the ideals of the 1971 liberation movement against West Pakistani oppression and its local collaborators, such as Jamaat-e-Islami and Al-Badr.
