Indian Muslim Council-USA Calls for Action on the third Anniversary of Gujarat Pogroms
February 28, 2005
AsSalamu Alaikum / Peace be with you
Today is the third anniversary of the Gujarat pogroms. On this day, three years ago, a systematic pogrom was started against the Muslims of the Indian state of Gujarat. By the time the extensive violence subsided, more than 2000 Muslims were brutally killed, hundreds of women and girls were raped and sexually mutilated and over 150,000 were ethnically cleansed. The surviving victims continue to be persecuted in Gujarat.
Narendra Modi, the architect of this pogrom and an admirer of Hitler has been invited by his supporters to visit the US during the time of the third anniversary. He is to be honored at the convention of the Asian American Hotel Owners association in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. This visit comes in the wake of the 60th Holocaust anniversary when the world has reminded itself about the liberation of the Nazi death camps.
IMC-USA along with our partners for pluralism in the Coalition Against Genocide (http://coalitionagainstgenocide.org/) has launched a campaign against the perpetrators of Gujarat pogroms and their financial backers in the US.
More than 75 university and college faculty have written to Secretary Condoleezza Rice and more have agreed to join the faculty campaign. Leaders of human rights organizations, prominent members of intelligentsia and concerned individuals are making calls on our behalf.
The American media in Florida has picked up the story. Now is the time to intensify our efforts. In the very near future, we are going to ask you to join a very important phone/fax/e-mail campaign.
In the meantime it is of vital importance that you call your Senators and representatives in Congress and
# Educate them about Narendra Modi and the invitation extended to him.
# Ask them to investigate those who are supporting Narendra Modi and financing his persecution of Christians, Muslims and the tribal population of Gujarat.
# Make special mention of how school children in Gujarat are taught to admire Hitler.
# Inform them that you will be asking the Coalition Against Genocide to send them a dossier on Narendra Modi and his supporters.
Please send us the names of your Senators and representatives in Congress and we will mail them the brochure to further educate them on Narendra Modi.
Please remember to call your Senators and representatives in Congress again to follow up on this issue.
We also request you to write/call your local media (print, radio and TV) and make the same points. Ask them to do investigative reports on financiers and supporters of the Nazi sympathizer Narendra Modi.
This is the time to act decisively and to keep sustained pressure. Neutralizing the growing influence of these hate groups in US will aid in protecting the minorities suffering from oppression in India.
ACTIONS REQUESTED
1. Keep the victims of the Gujarat massacres in your prayers (du’a).
2. Call or write to your elected representatives. Goto http://www.congress.org/congressorg/dbq/officials/ or use the tool provided below to find your elected representatives. Send copies of all correspondence to info@imc-usa.org
3. Donate generously to IMC's campaign against Modi and his supporters. Your donations are tax deductible. Please send your checks to IMC-USA 265 Sunrise Highway #1-355, Rockville Centre, NY 11570 or Donate Online at http://www.imc-usa.org/donate.html .
4. Please distribute this action alert especially after the Friday prayers.
5. Join your local IMC-USA chapter or start a local IMC-USA chapter in your area.
TALKING POINTS
Gujarat State Government was complicit in the massacres and rapes as documented by Amnesty International and Human Rights Organizations.
Modi Government is still persecuting Muslim victims and Christians.
The fact that Modi was invited and his supporter’s refusal to cancel the invitation speaks volumes of the confidence of these well entrenched groups.
How can US allow the honoring of a Hitler admirer and supporter of genocide and rapes?
Express concern that these extremist elements under the cover of working for professional organizations are trying to influence the US Congress.
Request your Representative to support the Coalition Against Genocide and the 75 Professors who wrote to Secretary Rice. Their staff can get more information from http://coalitionagainstgenocide.org/
