NON BAILABLE ARREST WARRANTS ISSUED TO EDITOR OF VIJAYA VIHARAM!!!
babu@i
HUMANIST EDITOR IN HYDERABAD, INDIA, UNJUST!!!
The International Humanist and Ethical Union, the umbrella
organisation for over 100 Humanist, Rationalist, Agnostic, Skeptic,
Atheist and Ethical Culture groups in 37 countries, expresses its
grave concern over the issue of non-bailable arrest warrants on 14
December 2000 by Andhra Pradesh State police for Mr. T.V. Ramana
Murty, Editor of Hyderabad based Telugu language humanist/rationalist
youth monthly VIJAYA VIHARAM.
The raid on 14 December 2000 on the offices of VIJAYA VIHARAM, the
sealing of the editorial offices, the seizure of all the December
2000 issues of the magazine, the confiscation of the copies from the
magazine's distribution agents in the districts of Kurnool,
Cuddapah
and Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh State, the arrests of Mr. Ramana
Murthy's colleagues Mr. Veerabhadra Rao and Mr. Jehangir on 14
December 2000, and the non-disclosure till today (17 December 2000)
by police of their whereabouts, does little to calm the alarm in the
international community. Mr. Ramana Murthy himself has gone
underground, hoping to avoid arrest and safeguard his liberty by
applying to the State High Court for anticipatory bail during the
week of 18 December 2000.
Charges filed by the police under Indian Penal Code Sections 153 A
and 295 A indicate that Mr. T.V. Ramana Murthy and his colleagues are
accused of promoting enmity between religious groups, and of
maliciously outraging the religious feelings of Muslims. This charge
appears to be extreme, considering that all that the Editor did was
to publish an article on Swami Dayananda Saraswati (1824 – 1883),
the
Hindu reformer and founder of the reformist Arya Samaj. In the
article (not authored by the editor) quotations of Swami Dayananda
Saraswati's critical opinions on Islam, sourced from his famous
book
Satyartha Prakash (The Light of Truth: in circulation for the last
125 years), have been used.
The IHEU expresses unreserved concern and dismay that quotations from
a book legally available, and hundreds of thousands of whose copies
are freely circulated and stocked in public libraries throughout
India should be deemed by the police to be objectionable to communal
harmony.
In this light, the IHEU takes note of the fact that VIJAYA VIHARAM
has been carrying a series of articles critical of the influential so-
called Godman Satya Sai Baba, and of the accusation by the publishers
of VIJAYA VIHARAM that the actions against them by the police are
motivated, since many dignitaries and senior police officials in
India are devotees of Satya Sai Baba. The magazine publishers also
allege that their articles against Vaastu (Indian geomancy, similar
to Feng Shui) have provoked vested interests (who exploit this
superstition by charging exhorbitant consultant fees from gullible
public) to attack them in this way. While calling for further
investigation into such serious allegations, the IHEU regrets that
the present developments in India are only the latest in the series
of misuse of similar laws in the Indian sub-continent.
Relics of the British colonial laws, laws relating to
`defamation' of
religion, `hurting the religious sensibilities of sections of
society' or `blasphemy' (most of them termed Section
295!) in the
Penal Codes of Pakistan, India and Bangladesh are being increasingly
used by the respective countries to prosecute religious dissenters,
minorities and atheists, and to hamper the free and responsible
exercise of the Freedom of Speech and Expression.
In the past the IHEU has been instrumental in campaigning for the
Feeedom of Expression of dissident Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasrin
(and assisting her in her flight to freedom), fighting the blasphemy
accusations against Dr. Younis Shaikh of Pakistan (punishable by
death, if proved guilty), demanding rights for religious minorities
in Islamic countries, lobbying for the Rights of Humanists in
Slovakia, Poland and Germany, opposing the Vatican's denial of
Human
and reproductive Rights to women etc.
The IHEU has now constituted a panel of eminent international experts
to defend the rights of Mr. T.V. Ramana Murthy, and to highlight the
abuse of his rights should the charges against him not be dropped.
The IHEU has Specialist Consultative Status at the United Nations in
New York, Geneva, and Vienna; at UNICEF, maintains operational
relations with UNESCO, and has amicus curae and Consultative Status
at the Council of Europe. As a founding member of the Oslo Coalition
on Freedom of Religion or Belief, the IHEU also works with 185 Human
Rights and Religious organisations in the defence of the Freedom of
Religion and Belief. The IHEU will also defend Mr. T. V. Ramana
Murthy's rights through alerting the UN High Commissioner of
Human
Rights, the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief,
and the UN Special Rapporteur on Arbitrary Detentions. A special
website is created at http://209.15.107.3/alerts/ to monitor the
progress in the case. Pictures of Mr. Ramana Murthy, pictures of
VIJAYA VIHARAM, details of Mr. Ramana Murthy's dramatic
appearance at
a public meeting are also posted here, along with details about
India's first unsuccessful blasphemy prosecution (The Reason
Case,
1933). A special e mail address campaign@i... has also been
created to be the focus of protest, and members of the public are
invited to write to this address.
The Right to Freedom of Religion or Belief, (recognised by the
international community in Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of
Human Rights, Article 18 of the International Covenant on Civil and
Political Rights, and the 1981 United Nations Declaration on the
Elimination of All Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based
on Religion or Belief) also includes the right not to have a
religious belief. As non-believers Humanists reject absolute
authorities and revealed wisdoms. Believing in intellectual
integrity; they do not allow custom to replace conscience. Therefore
they feel duty-bound to combat religious and social norms that do not
stand the test of reason, or those that are not in harmony with
modern and civilised norms of behaviour. Activity of this kind is an
attempt to elevate the moral and social level of society, rather than
a malicious intent to hurt any one's sentiments. Humanists give
the
greatest importance to respect for rights of all sections of society
to hold their beliefs, but submit to all concerned that responsible
and constructive criticism of religion or belief is essential for
social progress. To stifle free expression or to suppress history in
the name of respect to religions infringes on the free exercise of
humanity's critical faculties, and would hamper all honest
attempts
to introduce social reforms.
The IHEU appeals, on behalf of the Humanist community all over the
world, and specially on behalf of its Hyderabad-based Full Member
Organisation Rationalist Association of India, and its leaders Dr. N.
Innaiah, Mr. Ravela Somayya and Mr. Subba Rao Maradani who are
spearheading the campaign, that the Indian authorities immediately
drop their charges against Mr. T.V. Ramana Murthy, Editor of VIJAYA
VIHARAM and forthwith take all necessary steps to ensure the physical
safety of Mr. Veerabhadra Rao and Mr. Jehangir.
What Can YOU Do?
Please write URGENTLY to CHIEF MINISTER OF ANDHRA PRADESH State, with
respect due for the head of government of one of India's larger
States.
N. Chandra Babu Naidu
Chief Minister, Andhra Pradesh
Secretariat Building
Hyderabad 500 022
Andhra Pradesh, India
Tel: + 91 40 - 345 5662 / 345 2933 / 345 6698 / 345 5205
Fax: + 91 40- 345 7824
Email: cmap@a...
Briefly recalling the case history, and referring to the non-bailable
arrest warrant against Mr. Ramana Murthy, and the arrest of his
colleagues Mr. Veerabhadra Rao and Mr. Jehangir:
- Please observe that the actions of the police seem to be
arbitrary and abusive of their powers. Express your concern for the
safety of the arrested, and demand their release.
- Please point out the absurdity of using IPC Section 295 (a)
for merely re-printing quotations from a legally and freely available
book, written by one of last century's important religious
reformers.
Please ask that the Chief Minister ensure Sections 295 (A) and 153
(A) are not misused. Quote the UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of
Religion or Belief who said (referring to the general situation all
over the world): "Prohibitions against acts of defamation or
blasphemy are misused for the purposes of outright censorship of the
right to criticism and discussion of religion and related questions.
In many cases, defamation becomes the tool of extremists in censoring
and maintaining or propagating obscurantism. It becomes a weapon of
war, particularly against vulnerable groups, be they women or ethnic
or religious minorities, or simply non-obscurantist intellectual
minorities. In any event, one must be very cautious in dealing with
the question of defamation, displaying intellectual vigilance and
wisdom in view of the primary aim of protecting and promoting human
rights".
- Please tell the Chief Minister that you are alarmed at the
low level of scientific literacy in the State of Andhra Pradesh, that
you disapprove of intolerance to criticism of god men, that you are
alarmed at the prevalence of superstitions like Vaastu and
witchcraft; that you are hopeful that as part of his moderninsing
zeal he will introduce policies to encourage scientific culture in
the state.
- Please recall the long tradition of Humanism in India,
dating back to the Charvakas and the Lokayatas. Humanists have been
at the forefront of the fight against untouchability, the caste
system and superstition. Humanists and atheists have helped in
promoting widow remarriages, rehabilitating religious prostitutes and
upholding democratic principles. For further details (for your own
reference) visit:
in English
http://www.iheu.org/Speeches/BabuGogineni/ceremonies.html
in French http://www.iheu.org/Speeches/BabuGogineni/babu_les.html
- Please remind Mr. Chandra Babu Naidu that Article 51 (a)
(h) of India's Secular, Socialist, Democratic Constitution
enjoins
all Indians, as their fundamental duty, to "develop the
scientific
temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform". Please
assert
that no Humanist like Mr. Ramana Murthy or his colleagues or members
and leaders of the Rationalist Association of India, like Dr. N.
Innaiah, Mr. Ravela Somayya, Mr. Subba Rao Maradani performing such a
vital duty sanctioned by the Indian Constitution should be punished
or harassed.
- PLEASE POST WIDELY THE IHEU ALERT TO E MAIL DISCUSSION LISTS
AND YOUR CONTACTS. OUR PRESSURE CAN SAVE THE SITUATION.
- PLEASE 'COPY' ALL YOUR MAILS & PROTEST COMMUNICATIONS TO
- IHEU at campaign@i... Fax + 44 20 7404 8641 or + 44 20 7430
1271 (47 Theobalds Road, London WC1X 8SP, UK)
- UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Religion or Belief at
pgillibert.hchr@u... Fax + 41 22 917 0123
Courtesy: http://www.kanneganti.com/