Fri Nov 29 17:15:09 UTC 2024: ## UK Parliament Condemns Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh

**London, UK** – Concerns over escalating violence against Hindus in Bangladesh were raised in the UK House of Commons on Thursday. Bob Blackman, MP for Harrow East and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for British Hindus, condemned the persecution of the Hindu minority, highlighting the arrest of prominent spiritual leader Chinmoy Krishna Das.

Das, the spiritual leader of ISKCON (International Society for Krishna Consciousness) and head of the Bhaktivedanta Manor temple in Watford – one of the UK’s largest Hindu temples – is facing imprisonment in Bangladesh, where numerous attacks, including arson and temple desecration, have been reported. Blackman further noted an attempt in the Bangladeshi High Court to ban ISKCON, describing it as a direct attack on the Hindu community. He urged the UK government to intervene, citing Britain’s role in Bangladesh’s independence.

The UK government, responding through Leader of the House Lucy Powell, acknowledged the concerns and pledged to have Foreign Office Ministers investigate the situation and issue a statement. Powell affirmed the UK’s support for freedom of religion globally, including in Bangladesh.

The Friends of India Society International (FISI) UK echoed the concerns, condemning the widespread violence against Hindus and other minorities in Bangladesh. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also issued a statement expressing deep concern over the attacks and the arrest of Das, calling for the protection of all minorities and their rights to peaceful assembly and expression. The MEA highlighted numerous documented cases of arson, looting, and temple desecration, criticizing the arrest of Das while the perpetrators of the violence remain at large. The situation has prompted calls for international action to protect religious freedom in Bangladesh.

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