United States Issues Biased Report on Religious Freedom
“So where are the peaceful Muslims protesting the violence and mayhem that is being waged in their name? Where are the protests from the so-called peace-loving followers of Islam in the U.S. …I’ll take Islam as a peaceful religion seriously when I see followers of Islam in America protesting and condemning suicide bombers, anti-Semitic hate speech and genocide in the Sudan”. These famous words were uttered by none other than Dr. Richard L. Land who is a Commissioner of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). He is also the President of the Southern Baptist Convention’s Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission!!
Richard Land as a conservative Christian is setting a certain standard for Muslims which he does not follow himself. I did not see Richard Land or very many Christians in America protesting against America’s invasion of Iraq which many Muslims consider to be an attack on a Muslim nation by a Christian nation. Does this mean that all Christians are not peace loving?
More importantly how did a person like Richard Land end up on a committee with is supposed to be bipartisan? Can a person who is closely associated with the Southern Baptists be part of a committee that is supposed to deliver a non-partisan report on religious freedom in other countries? Isn’t it hypocritical for a person who has very strong views against homosexuality and abortion to be part of a group that is trying to promote freedom and tolerance?
USCIRF reports and other similar reports issued by the United States government do not have the same punch as it once had. These days such a report only damages the credibility of the United States and exposes the double standards of the American government. How can a country that has a strong economic and trade relationship with countries like China and Saudi Arabia complain about religious freedom? How can a person who lives in China or Saudi Arabia get more freedom when the United States though its trade relationship is strengthening these oppressive regimes?
USCIRF report puts countries of the world in three categories: “Countries of Particular Concern”, “USCIRF Watch List” and “Additional Countries Closely Monitored”. No North American, Central American or South American country is part of this list. No European nation (except Russia) is part of this list either. So one of the conclusions a reader can take away from this report is that minorities have no reason to be concerned if they live in predominantly Christian nations. Of course Israel does not make it on the list either!!
India (the country I am from) is part of the “USCIRF Watch List” for the second year in a row. This news has been widely reported by many Indian media outlets. The reports states that “because the governmental response at the state level and local levels continues to be largely inadequate and the national government has failed to take effective measures to ensure the rights of religious minorities in several states, USCIRF again places India on its Watch List for 2010”. Thank you Sir. Is there anything else we can do for you?
Wait there is more. “USCIRF also urges the US government to integrate concern for religious freedom and related human rights into all bilateral contacts with India and the US ambassador to India to speak out against, seek to visit sites of, communal violence such as Orissa”. Is this the type of behavior the US diplomats should indulge in? Does this committee really think that a country like India with its religious diversity and history is going to listen to a lecture on religious freedom and tolerance from the US or its ambassadors?
Can you imagine the Indian ambassador to the United States knocking on the White House door and asking the President of the United States about what his plans are for repealing racial profiling laws enacted recently in Arizona or seeking a visit to New Orleans to console the predominantly minority victims of Hurricane Katrina? He will be on the next flight home.
There is no question that India has a long way to go when it comes to religious freedom. But it is not countries like India that are trying to enact laws to ban the Minaret (Switzerland) or the Burka (Britain, Belgium and France) or preventing the Sikhs from joining the armed forces (United States).
During the 2008 Presidential campaign candidate Barack Obama repeatedly dismissed the “rumor” that he is a Muslim. He said “I’ve been to the same church … the same Christian church for almost 20 years. I was sworn in with my hand on the family Bible. Whenever I’m in the United States Senate, I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. So if you get some silly e-mail … send it back to whoever sent it and tell them this is all crazy. Educate”. There was a loud cheer from the “liberal” followers when he confirmed that he is a Christian and not a Muslim. All of America breathed a sigh of relief.
Can an “openly” atheistic or a non-Christian become the President of America? That is the ultimate test of religious freedom. For the record India’s Prime Minister for the past six years is a Sikh (only 3% of India’s population). The current Indian President is a woman and the President before her was a Muslim. The President of the ruling Congress Party is a Roman Catholic.
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Category: Culture & Religion