By: Aeneas Lavinium
ICLA

Since ICLA began developing relations with new friends on the Indian subcontinent, we have heard some harrowing and heart wrenching stories of religious persecution. We see in the West how Islamists preaching hate are placated and indulged. It seems that a similar situation exists in India’s state of West Bengal.

We were recently informed about the imprisonment of Hindu community activist Tapan Ghosh. His organization, Hindu Samhati, reports (1) that he was arrested on 14 March 2013 on very tenuous grounds.

Struggle for Hindu Existence reports that bail was not granted to Mr. Ghosh and suggests that a policy of appeasement of Islamist violence is currently being implemented in West Bengal (2). It appears that Islamists are mounting an aggressive campaign against Hindus in both West Bengal and in neighboring Bangladesh (East Bengal).

It appears that there is a global trend towards appeasing Islamism across the world. Western support for Muslim Brotherhood type groups in North Africa and Syria is one example. The apparent willingness of Western countries to do the bidding of the anti-free speech Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) which has many member states that allow the persecution of religious minorities is another. We now see that such appeasement is not restricted to the Western world. The arrest and incarceration of Tapan Ghosh illustrates an organized global facilitation of sharia compliance. It seems clear to us that Tapan Ghosh is a political prisoner.

Politically motivated arrests of anti-sharia activists is becoming a serious problem in many countries in the world. ICLA therefore believes that specific provisions needs to be made in international law to formalize the right to oppose sharia. Item 8 of the ICLA Mission Statement makes this demand.

(8) The Right to Oppose Sharia

Countering any attempts by Islamic leaders or organizations to implement Sharia, covertly or openly. Campaigning for the protection of individuals and organizations working to prevent the implementation of Sharia in our societies. This includes ensuring that law enforcement and courts deal fairly and robustly with threats and intimidation against citizens doing so, for such citizens are working in line with the European Court of Human Rights verdict of February 13th 2003:

“… the Court found that sharia was incompatible with the fundamental principles of democracy as set forth in the Convention. It considered that Sharia, which faithfully reflects the dogmas and divine rules laid down by religion, is stable and invariable. Principles such as pluralism in the political sphere or the constant evolution of public freedoms have no place in it.”

We invite our friends in India as well as in countries across the world to join us in our campaign to formalize the right to oppose sharia into international law. The Islamic world needs to acknowledge that non-Muslims are not obliged to accept sharia compliance. Indeed the second class status that sharia law bestows upon non-Muslims provides moral justification for opposition to it.

(1) Tapan Ghosh Arrested: Hindu Samhati Takes On Bengal Government’s Repression (Hindu Samhati)

(2) A Black Phase in the History of West Bengal. The nasty repression upon Hindu Organizations and Hindu Leaders by TMC Government (Struggle for Hindu Existence)

Other Coverage:

APPEASEMENT OF ISLAM IN WEST BENGAL LEADS TO POLITICAL ARREST OF HINDU ORGANIZATION LEADER TAPAN GHOSH… (Tundra Tabloids)

Hindu Samhati leader Sri. Tapan Kumar Ghosh arrested on false charges (Haindava Keralam)

HRDI condemns the arrest of Tapan Ghosh, purblind attitude of West Bengal administration (Human Rights Defense International)