-----Original
Message-----
From: Alan Levin [mailto:host@humanists.net]
Sent: jeu. 21 décembre 2000
06:46
To: InternationalHumanistNews@topica.com
Subject: Urgent Action Alert
NON-BAILABLE ARREST WARRANT FOR HUMANIST EDITOR IN HYDERABAD, INDIA,
UNJUST!!!
LEVI FRAGELL,
PRESIDENT, INTERNATIONAL HUMANIST AND ETHICAL UNION, LONDON
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 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@iheu.org
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@ap.nic.in
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@iheu.org
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@unog.ch
Fax + 41 22 917 0123