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DATE: January
22, 2005
The Hindu American Foundation
(HAF) is gravely concerned by various reports in the media
that some faith-based organizations involved in tsunami relief
work are actively engaged in the proselytization of victims
of the disaster.
Following the devastating
tsunamis that struck South and South East Asia and left more
than 160,000 dead, relief groups, both secular and faith-based,
from around the world, have rushed in to rebuild and rehabilitate
affected communities. Though relief aid is desperately needed
in the region, and most aid groups are sincere in their humanitarian
efforts, reports from several media sources confirm that some
evangelical organizations are expressly proselytizing to tsunami
victims while distributing aid.
The Hindu American Foundation
strongly opposes any effort to make disaster relief contingent
on the political allegiance, religious affiliation or socio-economic
status of victims. “In times like these, victims seek
reassurance and comfort,” said Dr. Mihir Meghani, President
of the Hindu American Foundation, an emergency physician,
and a disaster management expert currently involved in relief
efforts in Sri Lanka. He continued, “I know from my
own experience with disaster victims that the worst thing
for them is to be coerced into giving up their greatest source
of strength – their faith.”
Several reports now indicate
that some faith-based groups seek to establish infrastructure
and a permanent presence for evangelical activity in the regions
they ostensibly seek to serve. Over the last two weeks, the
Associated Press, the Washington Post, Kansas City Star and
Asia News International, among others, have reported on attempts
by certain faith-based groups to convert local residents in
ravaged communities to faiths alien to their own practice
of Hinduism. In a most egregious case, a Virginia-based missionary
agency abandoned relief efforts in Indonesia when their bid
to airlift 300 Muslim orphans in Indonesia to raise them in
a different faith was foiled by the government.
HAF condemns proselytization
to vulnerable and desperate victims as a reprehensible exploitation
that is a blow to the ideals of pluralism that HAF firmly
supports.
“Charity is to generously give without expectation of
anything in return,” said Pawan Deshpande, member of
the Hindu American Foundation Executive Council. “HAF
will closely monitor reports that some groups have agendas
beyond simple altruism,” he added.
For further
information: Please contact
HAF.
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