The country’s national Hindu body, South African Hindu Maha Sabha, has issued a statement strongly condemning the attack on the ISKCON temple in Bangladesh’s Noakhali district, Chittagong Division. On October 15, radical Islamists attacked the Bangladesh unit of the temple which left one Hindu monk killed.
The South African Hindu Maha Sabha said, "the religious intolerance and hate crimes are poisons that are suffocating societal harmony and sinking deeper holes in a divided society."
The organization has asked the Bangladesh government to assure the victims’ safety and well-being, as well as their right to freedom of religion.
The full statement of South African Hindu Maha Sabha is below:
The Sanyasa Spiritual Council of South Africa is a national institution of Hindu Monastics that not only upholds the peaceful and universal teachings of Hindu Dharma but importantly promotes peace and tolerance between multifaith communities, working tirelessly towards social cohesion and harmony between diverse communities, encouraging mutual co-operation, understanding and respect.
It is with this mandate that we strongly condemn the unprovoked violence and attacks on the ISKCON Temple in Noakhali and other Hindu Shrines in various areas in Bangladesh during the sacred Navaratri Prayers, which resulted in the senseless loss of life, aside from the shameful damage and horror caused to the devotees.
Religious intolerance and hate crimes are a poison that is killing social harmony and digging deeper trenches in a world that is divided. As leaders, we need to take a firm stand and commit to working toward a more peaceful and united civilization. We must respect human rights, human dignity, religious freedom and diversity, and cultivate respect, tolerance and mutual understanding.
We, therefore, stand in solidarity with all those who were affected by the attacks and call upon the Bangladesh Government to take swift action and implement the appropriate justice upon the perpetrators of these crimes. We further request the Bangladesh Government to ensure the protection and well-being of the victims as well as safeguarding their right to freedom of worship.
Radharaman Das said, “Cycle of violence in Bangladesh in past few days hasn’t stopped. There was dance of death inside ISKCON temple on Friday. ISKCON will continue to protest outside Bangladesh High Commissions across the world until the guilty are punished."
As per the reports, Kolkata ISKCON has been protesting the dastardly attack in Bangladesh by singing ‘bhajan’ outside Bangladesh Deputy High Commission, demanding speedy action against the safety of the devotees and prepetrators.