Islamism - 7

[Guest]

[url="http://www.wnyc.org/articles/its-free-country/2011/mar/09/hindu-activists-broaden-fight-against-islamic-extremism/"]Hindu Activists Broaden the Fight Against Islamic Extremism[/url]

For years, men like Arish Kumar Sahani have spoken out about the abuses suffered by Hindus in Muslim-majority countries, as well as how Islamic extremism affects Hindus in India. Their concerns didn't often travel outside the Indian-American community, which has fiercely debated the rights of Muslims in a Hindu-majority India.



But the furor over Park 51 and more recent controversy over Congressman Peter King's hearings on Muslim radicalization have provided a mainstream platform for Hindu-American activists, while simultaneously diversifying the ranks of anti-Islamic protesters.



"We're requesting all Muslims: If you don't help us, we have no other option," said Sahani on Sunday, speaking at a demonstration about what he considers inadequate Muslim-American cooperation with law enforcement agencies. "We have to stop immigration of all Muslims - that should be our ultimate solution. God bless America!"



His proposal drew cheers from the crowd of about 35 supporters of Peter King in midtown Manhattan. Just a couple weeks earlier, the retired insurance agent from Queens was in Long Island, at another rally in support of King.



Sahani was born in India before Partition, in what is now Pakistan. He calls America "heaven on earth," and thinks Muslim immigrants are benefiting from their adopted country without giving back. The United States, he argues, needs to be aggressive in fighting Muslim forces.



"I don't want this country to become just like Pakistan, Bangladesh, and India, which is becoming a soft nation for Islamic appeasement. We don't want this country to appease Islam."



At the rally, Sahani was joined by about ten other Indian-American men, most of them Hindus, as well as a couple Sikhs.



"The country should be made secure," said Pabitra Chaudhury, a Hindu activist. "We can't go to the airports without waiting in the line. And if it takes profiling of the people, what is the harm?"



One of the most prominent of the activists is Narain Kataria, a 76-year-old retiree from Queens. He helped establish the Human Rights Coalition Against Radical Islam, which includes four Indian, Sikh and Hindu groups, as well as the Zionist Organization of America and Americans for a Safe Israel.



"I have been watching Islam destroying everywhere," said Kataria, who has been active in Hindu nationalist groups in the U.S., including the Overseas Friends of the Bharatiya Janata Party, which raised funds for the BJP (Indian People's Party).

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