02-21-2006, 02:13 AM
<!--QuoteBegin-->QUOTE<!--QuoteEBegin-->Defend Russian Hindus Website Launched
The Defend Russian Hindus Campaign has announced the launch of its website to coordinate the worldwide communication of issues surrounding the harassment of Russian Hindus by the Russian Orthodox Church and the Moscow Government.
The high-profile campaign, which was launched at the House of Commons in London on 18 th January by Lord Dholakia, Ashok Kumar MP and James Clappison MP with the support of leaders from the Hindu, Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities, had already generated worldwide interest after Archbishop Nikon of the Russian Orthodox Church called Lord Krishna 'an evil demon, the personified power of hell, opposing God,' and urged the Mayor of Moscow to stop the building of a Hindu temple in Moscow.
"There are over 60,000 Hindus in Russia. In Moscow alone, there are thousands Hindus of Indian and Russian origin (well over 10,000). However, this peaceful community is being denied a simple right to have a place of worship where they can pray, counsel and celebrate their faith," explained Ramesh Kallidai, Secretary General of the Hindu Forum of Britain.
Two years ago the Moscow Government asked Hindus to vacate their only temple in Moscow in exchange for a piece of land on which they could build a bigger temple. After the land was allocated, the original temple was demolished.  After learning of the allocation of land to the Hindu temple, some members of the Russian Orthodox Church orchestrated mass protests and started a misinformation campaign against Hindus in the Russian media.
"Even before that many Hindus were victimised , threatened, bullied, even beaten and subject to violence in different regions of Russia," continued Kallidai . "Now we fear that such cases will only increase."Â
Supporters of the Campaign include the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, who handed a letter of protest to the visiting Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov who had been visiting London on 14th January, and the British Minister for Europe Douglas Alexander MP who was on record saying in the chamber of the House of Commons that Britain would discuss the issue with the Russian Government.
An Early Day Motion expressing concern about the harassment of Russian Hindus and extending support to the Defend Russian Hindu Campaign in the House of Commons has so far received the support of 57 British MPs.
The new website includes a history of the harassment of Russian Hindus, latest news about the campaign, press stories, downloadable presentations, pictures and documents and contact details for sending protest letters.
It can be visited at: www.defendrussianhindus.org
For more information: Call Ramesh Kallidai on 07915 383 103 or 020 8965 0671
<b>Editors Notes: </b>
Defend Russian Hindus is a worldwide campaign aimed to build awareness of the harassment and discrimination against Russian Hindus by the Russian Orthodox Church and the Moscow Government. The campaign has the support of British and Indian Parliamentarians, community leaders and the media, and is led by the Hindu Forum of Britain, National Council of Hindu Temples UK, Hindu Council UK, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Hindu Council of Australia, Hindu American Foundation and the Hindu Conference of Canada.
Info@HinduForum.org<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The Defend Russian Hindus Campaign has announced the launch of its website to coordinate the worldwide communication of issues surrounding the harassment of Russian Hindus by the Russian Orthodox Church and the Moscow Government.
The high-profile campaign, which was launched at the House of Commons in London on 18 th January by Lord Dholakia, Ashok Kumar MP and James Clappison MP with the support of leaders from the Hindu, Christian, Muslim and Jewish communities, had already generated worldwide interest after Archbishop Nikon of the Russian Orthodox Church called Lord Krishna 'an evil demon, the personified power of hell, opposing God,' and urged the Mayor of Moscow to stop the building of a Hindu temple in Moscow.
"There are over 60,000 Hindus in Russia. In Moscow alone, there are thousands Hindus of Indian and Russian origin (well over 10,000). However, this peaceful community is being denied a simple right to have a place of worship where they can pray, counsel and celebrate their faith," explained Ramesh Kallidai, Secretary General of the Hindu Forum of Britain.
Two years ago the Moscow Government asked Hindus to vacate their only temple in Moscow in exchange for a piece of land on which they could build a bigger temple. After the land was allocated, the original temple was demolished.  After learning of the allocation of land to the Hindu temple, some members of the Russian Orthodox Church orchestrated mass protests and started a misinformation campaign against Hindus in the Russian media.
"Even before that many Hindus were victimised , threatened, bullied, even beaten and subject to violence in different regions of Russia," continued Kallidai . "Now we fear that such cases will only increase."Â
Supporters of the Campaign include the Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone, who handed a letter of protest to the visiting Mayor of Moscow Yuri Luzhkov who had been visiting London on 14th January, and the British Minister for Europe Douglas Alexander MP who was on record saying in the chamber of the House of Commons that Britain would discuss the issue with the Russian Government.
An Early Day Motion expressing concern about the harassment of Russian Hindus and extending support to the Defend Russian Hindu Campaign in the House of Commons has so far received the support of 57 British MPs.
The new website includes a history of the harassment of Russian Hindus, latest news about the campaign, press stories, downloadable presentations, pictures and documents and contact details for sending protest letters.
It can be visited at: www.defendrussianhindus.org
For more information: Call Ramesh Kallidai on 07915 383 103 or 020 8965 0671
<b>Editors Notes: </b>
Defend Russian Hindus is a worldwide campaign aimed to build awareness of the harassment and discrimination against Russian Hindus by the Russian Orthodox Church and the Moscow Government. The campaign has the support of British and Indian Parliamentarians, community leaders and the media, and is led by the Hindu Forum of Britain, National Council of Hindu Temples UK, Hindu Council UK, BAPS Swaminarayan Sanstha, International Society for Krishna Consciousness, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Hindu Council of Australia, Hindu American Foundation and the Hindu Conference of Canada.
Info@HinduForum.org<!--QuoteEnd--><!--QuoteEEnd-->