UK Hindus worried over racial profiling plans
British Hindus have expressed concerns over proposals for racial profiling of South Asians by UK police and security services. Ramesh Kallidai, Secretary General of the Hindu Forum said that it is diabolical that British Hindus and Sikhs be subject to racial profiling by UK police and security services just because 23 alleged terrorists, mostly Pakistani Muslims, have been arrested in the alleged conspiracy to detonate liquid bombs on trans-Atlantic airliners flying from Heathrow.
August 20th, 2006 at 8:14 pm
I feel that the security situation is getting out of hand and that the Police and the Home Office have to be forced to realise that Hindu Mandirs and Hindus deserve same protection that mosques and Muslims get. Our supposed MP’s need to take the lead on this for unlike the Muslim MP’s who are out their for our community our lot only come out when the cameras and parties invites out. And all the white MP’s who represent major Hindu Populations need to be made aware… either u support us or we will tactically vote u out. This tactic more then any chai-pakora meetings will be effective. They are taking us for granted and like the Muslims we need to show our power.
August 21st, 2006 at 7:22 am
I feel that the security situation is getting out of hand and that the Police and the Home Office have to be forced to realise that Hindu Mandirs and Hindus deserve same protection that mosques and Muslims get. Our supposed MP’s need to take the lead on this for unlike the Muslim MP’s who are out their for our community our lot only come out when the cameras and parties invites out. And all the white MP’s who represent major Hindu Populations need to be made aware… either u support us or we will tactically vote u out. This tactic more then any chai-pakora meetings will be effective. They are taking us for granted and like the Muslims we need to show our power.
August 23rd, 2006 at 6:26 am
Having more police around the temples is not a long term problem for an issue which has much deep rooted history of animosity and hatred towards Hindus. Both christianity and Islam do not want Hindus. If religion takes over ethnicity in social life then Muslims need to be brought into Hindu faith. One solution is to allow Muslims in the temples and officially convert them to hindus
August 23rd, 2006 at 11:23 am
There appear to me to be two very separate issues here. The first is that there is racial profiling going on, in which all ‘Asians’ (ie, I assume, those with origins in the Indian subcontinent) are included. The second, which I feel is completely separate, is that community centres, places of worship and community events of non-Muslim ‘Asians’ are not being given adequate protection.
Regarding the first issue, my personal thought processes go something like this:
1. Terrorism is, of course, pandemic, in that it can be, and has been, carried out by anyone, from any religion, nationality or gender. Indeed, in the British context, until relatively recently, the majority of terrorists were white Christians (ie the IRA).
2. In modern-day Britain, however politically unpalatable it may be, it must be acknowledged that the vast majority of terrorists are Muslims of Indian subcontinent origin, generally British born and bred and superficially often very well ‘integrated’ (whatever that may mean).
3. Logistic limitations, be they financial, personnel, temporal, or any other, mean that some form of targetted response by security services is essential - ie ‘racial profiling’.
4. Racial jokes about ‘Paki noses’, beards and ’smelly Bangladeshis’ notwithstanding, the fact is that on the surface, it is impossible to tell whether any given person of Indian subcontinent origin is Muslim or not.
5. That being the case, racial profiling must necessarily come to include all those of Indian subcontinent origin.
Rather than be offended by this, it actually gives me some form of comfort to think that the security services are taking the issue seriously enough to take whatever action they are able.
Regarding the issue of adequate security arrangements for events and venues, I think that is largely an issue that needs to be taken up initially at local level directly with police and local government. Venue committees and event organisers have to take some responsibility for this and factor security arrangements into their planning. Where this has been done, the effects have been excellent. A couple of examples:
1. Some years back, one British city had problems with Muslim youths disrupting Hindu and Sikh events (Vaisakhi, Diwali, Navratri, weddings, etc.) Hindu and Sikh youths, with the blessings of the respective community elders, therefore banded together, trained up and provided security services at such events to great effect. Note that this was all done within the remit of the law and with full cooperation from the police; such a thing should not be allowed to degenerate into gang violence.
2. In another British city, at a major family event held annually to celebrate Diwali, there were shoot-outs between Hindu/Sikh and Muslim youths each year for three consecutive years. Since then, in conjunction with the police and a private security firm, a security case has been formulated, which means that the police are aware and available, a small private security presence is on site, and there are trained Hindu/Sikh youths forming the bulk of visible security.
3. At a number of events in various cities, local police commissioners, etc. have been invited as special guests, which is a great way to ensure security and build a relationship with the police.
I have no doubt others here will have many more of their own experiences of what does and doesn’t work. The main thrust of the argument is that Hindus need to take the initiative and approach the relevant people at the local level. The last thing the police or government want is communal violence in their town, so if approached in the right way, they are always very willing to help in any way they can - but the focus is on us to lead the way, not just demand and expect to be protected (rights versus duties, and all that!)
August 30th, 2006 at 1:08 am
The muslims have ruined the world for all of us. They fight and kill in every country they are in. They are barbaric and the government needs to target them and hold muslims accountable. There is no other faith in this world that has caused so much pain and killings. We as hindus and sikhs need to stand up and take action. Its time that we stand away from these people and their faith. They have killed and raped our own people to convert them and no they are raping the world with their terror attacks. The government needs to make every muslim wear a stamp on their arm to differentate them and stop this confusion. I am not a racisit but this is the only logical method available.
September 3rd, 2006 at 5:02 am
With terrorism worries, racial profiling is going to increase. I think the following is in order:
– Hindus should start to assert and separate their identities from other South Asians. It is best that Hindus (and the larger) society refer themselves as “British Hindus” , “American Hindus” , “Aussie Hindus” etc.
– Public display of Hinduness is also a good idea. Whenever possible it is best if people wear symbols of Hinduness. For example, whenever I fly, I have wear a tilak. This puts other passangers and airport security at ease immediately. Similary, women should be encouraged and be proud to wear India outfits like sarees, Bindi, etc.
– Most Hindus are uncomfortable showing their Hinduness in public. However, I have found that after the first few looks by strangers, people accept you quite easitly.
– It would be good to have interfaith dialogues with the larger community, so as to explain to them the Hindu faith and its symbols. Also the larger community should be invited to Hindu festivals so as to familiarise them to Hinduism. Hindu festivals are always fun, and the larger community might even adopt some of these festivities.
September 3rd, 2006 at 4:04 pm
The best defence of Hindus today is none other than Hinduism. This is the best time and opportunity to proclaim that we are Hindus, and thus differentiate us from the Muslims who are the target all over the world today. This is specially important for Indians to do this, because this gives us a self identity on the one hand and protects us from being mistaken to be muslims from our looks (most westerners cannot tell the difference from looks) on the other. We should all take this opportunity to proclaim our Hindusim in public. To this extent, wearing a tilak (which again differentiates us from muslims) or other identifiers in public would be very helpful and also send a strong message.
September 4th, 2006 at 2:42 pm
I dont mind racial profiling - i dont have a beard, i dont dress like santa claus, i have a normal nose, i dont smell, i dont wear a breakfast bowl on my head, and most importantly - IM educated!: - what i am is normal and a proud hindu - i dont need to show anybody that i am hindu as it would be blatently obvious! - u can spot a jihadi a mile off - and 99% of my english friends know the difference between a muslim and hindu!
We should not be afraid of the government and their policies - we should sing their praises- HOWEVER we should be wary of muslims and their pathetic propaganda in the uk! - we need a nationwide network of hindus who would defend the faith in the uk no matter what the circumstance - a kind of - u mess with us, and ull get messed up even worse!
ALSO- North indian & south indian hindus need to unite! - too much segregation!
JAI SHREE KRSNA!
September 6th, 2006 at 2:47 pm
I’m not sure whether the previous comment was made tongue-in-cheek or whether the individual was being serious. Either way, I’m not entirely sure of the appropriateness of the comments made in the first paragraph.