Minority Persecution

New York: Meena Farah’s eldest son ‘Joy’ had an accident on 7th Sept 2008 & he died Wednesday, 10th Sep 2008. Family decided to cremate his dead body. But some Mullahs, Mosques, Muslim Center & a few individuals protested their decision. Their argument was that Joy was Muslim, so he should be buried. Meena family denied that and go on as planned. But in the mean time under pressure they held a ‘Janaza’ (A Muslim ritual) and then cremated the body. This made some fundamental Muslims in NY furious. They protested in Jackson Heights, called upon people to boycott her, her business, asked her tenants not to pay rent etc. Press Conference: Meena family was forced to call upon a press conference. On Sunday, 14th Sept 2008 'Meena Family' arranged the press conference at Jackson Heights in her business office. Meena Farah, her husband Farhad Reza, son Debashis Reza, her attorney John Regano & family friend Dr. Mansoor Khan, a highly respected teacher, ex-Principal talked in the press conference. Farhad Reza told: I am a Muslim, my wife is a Hindu, and ours is a mix family. What we did was our family decision. Dr. Mansoor Khan told: Joy was my student. Often jokingly I had asked him, your dad is Muslim, your Maa is Hindu, what religion you belong? He always answered laughingly; I am half Hindu, half Muslim. Debashis Reza told: We are passing a very difficult time, leave us alone, and give us time to mourn. What we did was our family business; others should mind their own business. But people are protesting, damaging my mom's business, our property, we will sue. Meena Farah told: We raise our son both Hindu & Muslim. He went to Mosque & Temple. Newspapers are writing that he was pious Muslim. No, he was not. She was crying & crying--. She named Gias (BNP), Bulbul (BNP), Jiku (JH Business Asso), Dr. Masud (Jago Dal), editors of weekly Ekhoni Somoy (Jammat) & Weekly Bangladesh (BNP) as the trouble makers. The attorney told: What my client did was their constitutional rights. He said, he will sue and take action to fullest extent of law. BHBCUC, USA: Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, USA felt that the hate mongers should be stopped and to stand behind Meena Farah they called upon a ‘Prayer Meeting’ on 14th Sept 2008 in Jackson Heights Jewish Center. It was presided over by Nabendu Dutta while General Secretary Sushil Saha conducted. But the prayer meeting soon turned into a protest meeting. It was a huge gathering and the meeting supported Meena Farah. Speakers told that, whatever Meena family did were their constitutional rights, no Mollahs have anything to say. They urge not to spread hatred in US. Some people told; if you want to create anarchy, then go to Pakistan, Yemen, and Afghanistan. Meena Farah was once Meena Saha, who was never converted but marries a Muslim 25 years before in BD. Instead of burying she cremated the body of her son. That makes a big bang in the Muslim community. Some Muslims protested, vandalized her business and threatened her. BHBCUC demand was, don’t do politics with the dead body, Stop it or face the consequences, and we will not allow Islamic fanatics here in America. BHBCUC joined her & supported her; almost 50 minorities had gone there and supported her during the press conference. People were saying, are they trying to implement Sharia in NY? (Picture: Press Conference)..

A Letter from a Reader _______________________________________________________________
Dear Sitangshu Guha: Thank you for sending me Bangladesh Hindu Buddhist Christian Unity Council, USA's first News letter. Your group must be a special group because it is an UNITY COUNCIL. On unity you can give so many positive news to the reader through this news letter. Please do some good and positive work for the society through applying your editorial power. With regards, Reeta Bhattacharya

Minority Persecution