Rationalist Association of India condemns threats to Taslima Nasrin
The 77th National Convention of the Rationalist Association of India meeting in Palanpur, Gujarat, with over 200 Human Rights, Humanist, Rationalist, Secularist, and Atheist participants from various parts of the country, expresses its horror, and condemns in the strongest terms the threats held out to our Humanist colleague Taslima Nasrin by Muslim fundamentalists, and the subsequent reaction by the state government of West Bengal.
Taslima Nasrin came to India to seek refuge and the protection of the Indian State and the Indian Constitution at a time when she faced threats to her life in her own country because of her bold and modern views. The Indian government and the government of West Bengal state have done much to protect this courageous Humanist in the last several years.
This Convention calls upon the Government of India and other state governments to continue to recognise and carry out their legal and moral duty to protect Taslima Nasrin and her moral and intellectual freedoms, and to ensure her physical security. Contrary to those who have broken the laws of the land and vandalised public property and extended death threats - all of which are acts punishable under the Indian Penal Code, Taslima Nasrin has broken no Indian law and has only advocated rights for women, and defended ideas, values and rights enshrined in the Indian Constitution.
This Convention demands that the culprits be punished and Taslima Nasrin be honoured by the central and state governments for her unflinching commitment to the modern and democratic values of the freedom of expression and the freedom of religion or belief, which also includes the freedom not to hold any belief.
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Taslima Nasreen.
It is unfortunate that even the highly educated people also say that it is a crime to hurt the religious sentiments .If a religion says kill all non believers and when a rationalist says that the religion is wrong ,should the government prosecute the rationalist for hurting religious sentiments .If a god says that kill those who works on rest days(weekly holidays) and if a rationalist says that god is wrong to give such laws, should it be considered that the rationalist has hurt the religious sentiments .Should the people remain superstitious for ever. Judges should know the point of views of the scientists and rationalists before believing that hurting religious sentiments is a crime. It is time to amend such laws and educate the fundamentalists in science and atheism and make them good citizens.
Taslima's Plight
I agree with Pratnam. It is unfortunate that certain sections of Indian society are becoming increasingly radicalized and intolerant. It is however even more unfortunate that the Indian government is unable to uphold the values enshrined by the constitution on freedom of speech and expression. Instead of enforcing and protecting these values, the Central Govt and the West Bengal Govt is focused on vote bank politics ... or simply said - they are afraid of losing muslim votes. Needless to say, Hindu right-wing organizations have also entered the fray by coming out in support of Tasleema. But they too seek nothing but political capital out of this. Its a sad sight to see this happen in India which from times immemorial has been a vanguard of the oppressed (read Parsees from Iran, Tibetan refugees etc) and had always an open ear to voices of dissent. India which once had highly sophisticated atheist philosophical schools (Cārvāka for example), is now on a dangerous path of intolerance....