WASHINGTON,
D.C. – U.S. Representative Jan Schakowsky (D-IL) today organized a letter
signed by more than 100 of her colleagues, including Speaker Dennis Hastert
(R-IL) and Democratic Leader Dick Gephardt (D-MO), calling on President
Bush to intervene on behalf of Afghanistan’s Hindu minority. Afghanistan’s
Taliban government is planning to force Hindu residents and other religious
minorities to wear labels on their clothes to differentiate them from Muslim
citizens.
“The
action of the Taliban toward Afghanistan’s Hindu minority is disturbingly
reminiscent of Nazi Germany’s treatment of the Jews. The United States
has a responsibility as the world leader to speak up now and to demand
an immediate end to this policy, before it’s too late,” said Schakowsky.
The
Letter to President Bush is below.
May
23, 2001
The
Honorable George W. Bush
President
of the United States
1600
Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington,
DC 20500
Dear
President Bush:
We
are writing to you today because we are extremely concerned after hearing
news reports which indicate that the Taliban leadership in Afghanistan
plans to force Afghan Hindus to wear labels on their clothing to differentiate
them from Muslims. We urge you to immediately take steps that will
convince the Taliban to withdraw this proposal.
History
has shown over and over that segregation of this kind can lead to genocide.
This action alone is enough to raise that specter. Afghanistan is
also the source of disturbing reports of persecution of religious minorities
and women in particular, making this recent news all the more troubling.
News
reports also indicated that the policy was justified by Taliban officials
as a way to protect the Hindu population in that country. We believe
this action will be counter-productive to that goal. As the leader
of the free world, our nation has a solemn obligation to lead in opposition
to such dangerous plans. We urge you to immediately fulfill that
obligation.
We
appreciate your consideration of our request, and look forward to your
response. |