Hindu persecution, anti-Semitism and anti-Jihadist media

Hated Islamist terror outfit Al Qaeda's online newspaper 'Inspire' is at the focal point of media's attention in the world for past few days. I have been watching regional press, especially in the Muslim world are particularly refraining from criticizing this newspaper. Instead, many are trying to bring the message of this Islamist terror outfit to its readers in a very tactful way. Last week, I saw an article appeared in a Bangla language newspaper, published from Bangladesh, an article, where it, actually just translated the trick Al Qaeda taught in their online newspaper, on making a bomb 'at kitchen'. This is shocking indeed for every sensible individual as such publication will only give some unknown know-how to religious fanatics in making bombs, thus attacking their religious or ideological opponents.

In the Arab world, quite on a regular basis, local version of Al Qaeda's newspaper is getting published either under the header of 'article' or 'Opinion Editorial' or even 'editorial'. But, in all such cases, these newspapers are simply serving the purpose of Al Qaeda in their own ways.

'Inspire' though is the only declared publication of Al Qaeda, there are hundreds of such publications in the Muslim countries, which are strongly upholding editorial policy of promoting Jihad and spreading religious hatred against Hindus, Buddhists, Christians, Jews, Ahmadiyas, Bahais, Sikhs and other religious sects.

Ahmadiyas in particular are at very vulnerable situation in countries like Pakistan and Bangladesh, while Bahais are regularly persecuted in Iran. Hindus in Bangladesh are possibly at the worst ever situation since past few decades, especially after the creation of Muslim Pakistan in 1947. Pakistan was born under the header of being a Muslim nation, where it almost openly ignored the rights of religious minorities, and Hindus were regularly denied minimal citizen rights. It became very clear when Pakistani rulers virtually nabbed Hindu properties worth a few billion dollars, simply by introducing a law titled 'Vested Property Act'.

There had been change in political system in Bangladesh after the brave Bengalis fought war of liberation against West Pakistan under the leadership of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rehman. The country attained independence on December 16, 1971 at the cost of 3 million lives and dignity of thousands of women.

Key theme of this war of independence was to create a secular Bangladesh, where people from every religious belief would enjoy equal rights. But, unfortunately, Muslim mind at the back of leadership, who has been ruling this country for past 38 years, rather led them in continuing the administrative style of Muslim Pakistan. After independence and more precisely, after the tragic assassination of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rehman, both religious minorities as well as secularist forces in Bangladesh were under constant offensives.

Thousands of Hindu families were forced in migrating to India, even after the independence of the country, in fear of facing persecution from the rulers and the Muslims. It is important to mention here that, Pakistani occupation forces, during the war of independence of Bangladesh, particularly continued brutalities on Hindus. At least 1 million Hindus were killed, while a few thousand Hindu females were violated by the notorious Pakistani forces and their agents. War analysts compare this brutality of Pakistanis on Hindus with the notorious murder of Jews by Nazi forces under Hitler's command. Members of Jamaat-e-Islami, Muslim League and other Islamist groups in Bangladesh were openly collaborating Pakistani forces in abduction, murder, rape and various forms of atrocities on Hindus. Properties and business establishments owned by Hindus were looted and set on fire. Hundreds of Hindu females were held inside 'Concentration Camps' operated by Pakistani forces and their local collaborators.

Though in 2009, a new government, under the leadership of Sheikh Hasina Wajed (daughter of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rehman) has been in administration, there is no specific good news from Hindus or other religious minorities from Bangladesh. Persecutions of the religious minorities are continuing, as it happened before. In some cases, the situation is even worst. During Holy Durga Puja (biggest religious festival of Hindus) in 2009, temples were attacked and deities demolished by Muslim mob. Surprisingly, most of such mobs were belonging to the ruling party. The government simply remained inactive in either taking action against the perpetrators or at least giving protection to Hindus.

Abduction and forceful conversion of Hindu females are already at a very alarming level. Only during June 2009-2010, there had been more than five thousand cases of abduction of Hindu females and forceful conversion into Islam.

And most importantly, organizations like Bangladesh Hindu-Bouddha-Christian Oikya Parishad (Bangladesh Hindu-Buddhist-Christian Unity Council) did not utter a single word in protest of such notoriety. Only one organization, named Bangladesh Minority Watch, which defends rights of Hindus in Bangladesh, is seen at least sending press release to various institutions condemning such crime as well giving legal aide to several affected Hindu families.

Advocate Rabindra Ghosh, who heads this organization, told reporters in Dhaka that, in most cases, members of law enforcing agencies show either reluctance or negligence in taking any legal steps against the abductors of Hindu females. In most cases, rather the members of such agencies try to twist the case of abduction and forceful conversion into 'case of romantic affairs'.

While situation of Bangladeshi Hindus are at extremely vulnerable state, recently published news in Weekly Blitz, put me into even deeper concern over the very existence of Hindus in that country. According to the newspaper, “Al Qaeda man Mullah Omar has signed a sermon endorsing Islamist Jihad in Bangladesh with the goal of seizing power from the democratically elected government thus transforming the moderate Muslim nation into an Islamic republic.”

The newspaper said, “according to various sources, a number of Islamist politicians and clergies in Bangladesh are having regular contact with Mullah Omar and other top ranking terrorists in Al Qaeda. It is already reported that, Jihadists are taking extensive preparations under the direct guidance of Al Qaeda kingpins to stage Islamic revolution in Bangladesh. With this goal, recruitment and training of Jihadists are continuing in more than 71,000 Madrassas throughout the country as well as hidden training camps within Chittagong Hill Tract area, Burmese Border and mountains in Nepal.”

It further said, “Osama Bin Laden was reportedly not happy with the concept of Bengali nationalism among the Muslims of Bangladesh. Accordingly, after the withdrawal of Soviet forces in 1989 he convened a meeting of some of his trusted Mujahideens from Bangladesh and advised them to organise the Muslim youths to transform their country into Dar-ul-Islam. A number of Bangladeshi Jihadists were reportedly present in the meeting. In 1998, Osama Bin Laden formed International Islamic Front [IIB] for Jihad against Jews and Christians. This group was formed with Jihadists from Egypt, Pakistan, Iran and Bangladesh. On February 23, 1998 IIF issued a Fatwa with signature of Osama Bin Laden calling upon Muslims to attack on all Americans including civilians. With long-term strategy to replace the existing political structure of the word with Caliphate, Laden's immediate priority was to destroy the USA and its allies.”

I tried to find this news in any other English press in Bangladesh or other parts of the Muslim world. But to my utter surprise, there wasn't any! This single instance is enough to show the exact picture of what is happening inside the Muslim world and how the Muslim media in giving direct or indirect support towards Jihadist and Islamist activities.

Then I decided to search in Google, Yahoo etc to know more about this single newspaper in the Muslim world, which is extremely loud against Islamists, Jihad, anti-Semitism and anti-West notions.

Weekly Blitz, a newspaper with print and online edition is published every Wednesday from Bangladeshi capital Dhaka. Journalist Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, who faces sedition, treason and blasphemy charges in Bangladesh for opposing Jihad and Islamist militancy as well as for holding pro-Israel and pro-West ideologies, is the editor of this newspaper. It started publication in 2003 and to my utter surprise, I came to know that, in past 7 years, Weekly Blitz did not receive even a single advertisement in Bangladesh, simply because it opposes militant Islam.

I have to admire courage and commitment of Mr. Choudhury and his team in continuing this only anti-Jihadist newspaper in the Muslim world for years under extreme financial adversity. I read in a number of newspapers that Weekly Blitz may be finally forced to stop publication due to financial crisis. Mr. Choudhury also write in a bi-line editorial that, an Islamist entrepreneur showed interest in buying shares of this newspaper with substantial amount of money. It is well understood that, the reason behind such buying proposal was to kill the only remaining anti-Jihadist voice in the Muslim world.

If we at all care about stopping persecution of religious minorities as well rise of Jihadist forces in the Muslim world, we need to take steps initially to save this newspaper from getting silenced. If we don't, we shall in other words, collaborate the Jihadist and Islamists in winning this war on terror. Shall we?

Vinod Mehta is a free lance journalist writing on regional issues. He can be contact at: patriotvinod [at] yahoo [dot] com

Vinod Mehta
Free Lance Writer on regional and international issues