Muslims want Hindu state to stop Christian proselytization

DANG, August 12: It may come as a surprise that a rigid follower of Islam has been actively supporting the ongoing agitation for a Hindu state. Amjad Ali, chairman of Rapti Muslim Samaj, is fully committed to Islam. However, he is not only seriously involved in such agitations but also speaks out openly to explain his reasoning to the masses.

"It is to protect Islam," he clarifies. With the growing influence of Christianity among followers of the Hindu faith, he said the presence of Christain missionaries has been hugely noticed in the Muslim communities also. "Missionaries have managed to covert great numbers of Hindus. How can the Muslim community be spared the same fate if we leaders don't speak up?" he asked. "I've opened my mouth demanding that Nepal to be declared as Hindu state in order to protect my own religion."Although he has received mixed reactions from his own community, he is adamant that only the proclamation of a Hindu state can protect his religion from the growing influence of Christianity.

CPN-UML CA member Anarkali Miya said she has personally experienced missionaries trying to influence the Muslim community to follow Christianity. "When I was studying in class eight, an unknown person used to send me a Bible in an envelope every month," she said.

She said Christian missionaries have greatly intensified their activities these days. "Hence, the risks of our community being lured by them are very high," Miya further said. "For all these reasons, I believe the country should not adopt the concept of secularism. It will only create more problems in future."

Muslim leaders also said that missionaries have been trying to lure their community into following Christianity through offers of employment, development and various other benefits.

Udbudhin Faru, chairman of Muslim Mukti Morcha which is affiliated to the UCPN (Maoist), also acknowledged the increasing influence of Christianity in the Muslim community. However, he said he is compelled to stick to the concept of secularism because of his party's policy.

According to him, about a month ago missionaries reached settlements where his relatives lived and handed them bibles. "They requested my relatives to read it and decide for themselves. Although my relatives didn't care, the incident is a clear indication that the missionaries have intensified their campaigns," said Faru, adding that the distribution of bibles is going on extensively in Bhaluwang and surrounding villages.

"Every religion is equally important. But persuading people to convert to another religion should be condemned," said Barfi Khatun of Bhaluwang. "Let us visit the mosques to offer our prayers freely and without any hindrance. The government should at least safeguard our rights."

According to Muslim leaders, the attempted proselytising by missionaries has so far been unsuccessful. Although there is no evidence of Muslims converting to Christian in Dang district, the same couldn't be said about other districts.

Salim Shah, former district chairman of Muslim Samaj which is affiliated to the Nepali Congress, said, "I've seen a large number of Muslims in Rupandehi, Nawalparasi and other districts being converted to Christianity. We had no problem when Nepal was a Hindu state and our religion will be protected when the country is proclaimed a Hindu state once again," he said.

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