Dear Devotees,
Please accept our humble obeisances. All glories to Srila Prabhupada.
Many of you are aware of the atrocious attack against our temple and many Hindu temples in Bangladesh that occurred between October 13 and 15.
We offer heartfelt prayers that Lord Nrsimhadeva, the protector of the devotees, may offer his divine protection to the Vaisnava community in Bangladesh, and particularly offer his mercy to the two devotees who were brutally murdered in these attacks, Pranta Chandra das and Jatan Chandra Saha. We also pray for the Lord’s loving grace upon Nimai Chandra Das, who remains hospitalized in critical condition.
It is our request to the worldwide community of devotees that we all come together in prayer for the protection of our fellow devotees in Bangladesh. May the all-merciful Lord Nrsimhadeva protect them and the temples where they so lovingly offer their worship to the Lord.
The leaders of ISKCON Bangladesh are working closely with the International Communications ministry to organize a response to this attack, calling both for the perpetrators to be sought out and punished for their unspeakable crimes and for increased protection of our devotees and all others at risk in Bangladesh.
ISKCON representatives are uniting with other minority communities, including Christians, Buddhists, and other Hindus, to seek protection for all those who may be in danger. They are also in contact with Muslim leaders who have spoken out against these vicious acts.
We acknowledge with gratitude that the Honorable Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has strongly admonished these vicious attacks and request that all ISKCON devotees come together in a united voice to do the same.
The ISKCON Communications Ministry has organized a number of opportunities for devotees worldwide to speak out against this travesty, including a request for all temples and communities to organize large-scale kirtan events on October 23rd. You can find guidelines for these events below.
Let us all come together in this hour of need when our fellow devotees have been deprived of their safety, their temple, and even their very lives, and pray with united hearts that they may find the supreme shelter of Lord Nrsimhadeva’s mercy and protection.
Thank you very much.
Hare Krsna,
Your servants,
Bhakti Caitanya Swami
Bhanu Swami
Revati Raman Das,
GBC Executive Committee
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Guidelines for Large-Scale Kirtan Events in Support of ISKCON and other Minorities in Bangladesh
Date: Saturday, October 23
Time: As best for your local community
Venue: A public and visible place, or an ISKCON community.
Organizing: Events should be well organized, and not disruptive of others.
Signage should be carried. The media can be invited.
Signage: Recommended Messages/Signage to be carried at events:
Protect Bangladesh Hindus
Justice for Bangladesh Minorities
Protect our Temples in Bangladesh
God Loves Minorities Too
Stop Violence Against Hindus
Media: It is helpful to invite the media. Ideally, you have a trained ISKCON Communications devotee to help. A media release template will follow in a day or two for your use.
Messages: We seek two things:
1. Justice—Those responsible for the recent violence must be held accountable and punished per Bangladesh law.
2. Protection—We call on the Bangladesh government to ensure the safety of all religious minorities in Bangladesh
Warning: No signage or spoken messages should criticize Muslims, or Islam, or the Bangladesh government. This is the explicit request of the Bangladesh leaders and ISKCON Communications. No one incapable of following
this mandate should communicate in any fashion on behalf of ISKCON.
Many Muslims, as well as the Bangladesh government, have spoken out in support of ISKCON and other minorities. We are asking for concrete steps to be taken to ensure our safety.
Source: http://www.dandavats.com/?p=96342
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