September 22, 2013 Dear Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions Trustee, We the undersigned write to express our profound disappointment with the Council for a Parliament of the World’s Religions’ (CPWR) withdrawal from co­sponsorship of the “World Without Borders” event to be held in Chicago on September 28, 2013. We respectfully request specific actions to not only bring together our communities in furtherance of our larger shared goals for interreligious understanding, but to heal relations with the Hindu and Indian community, and restore confidence in CPWR as an institution tasked with fostering inter­religious harmony. Please give full consideration to the points raised below before your meeting on Monday September 24. The response from the community to join this voicing of collective concern has been tremendous ­­ from religious figures, political figures, organizations, and leaders in the community to ordinary Hindus across a broad and diverse spectrum, including prominent interfaith leaders ­­ all have expressed a resounding willingness to join. Due to urgent need to send you this communication in time for Monday’s meeting, we have not been able to include the many signatures that have come after the 24 hour deadline provided. However, we hope this demonstrates the importance of not only the effect the CPWR’s decision to withdraw has had, but also what the resolution will as well on so many well beyond this list of over 300. The individuals entrusted with guiding the Council have acted in a way which has jeopardized the reputation and credibility of CPWR by demonstrating a lack of respect and professionalism towards the organizers, the Hindus serving on the CPWR Board of Trustees, and by extension, the broader Hindu community. In particular, we are deeply troubled by the following: 1. The individuals responsible for the decision to withdraw did not exercise common courtesy of directly informing the organizers of any issues or of the withdrawal itself. More importantly, the organizers were not provided the opportunity to respond to any allegations of their “promoting controversial political positions.” 2. Anant Rambachan and Anju Bhargava, the only two Hindu trustees on the CPWR, were not consulted before the withdrawal decision was made nor were they informed after the decision but before the withdrawal decision was announced. This is especially disturbing because it disregarded Dr. Rambachan’s and Ms. Bhargava’s service to the CPWR, but also missed an opportunity for the CPWR to gain better understanding of the Hindu community that only Dr. Rambachan and Ms. Bhargava could have immediately offered. It is difficult to imagine a scenario in which Jewish trustees would not have been consulted about potential Jewish partners accused of “promoting controversial political positions,” or other religionists about their co­religionists. 3. CPWR appears to have made the decision to withdraw without consideration of its commitment to the core principles of inter­religious understanding, dialogue, and engagement, especially because the decision was made without an inclusive process based on those core principles. 4. Had the individuals responsible for deciding to withdraw researched the backgrounds of the complainants, they would have found that the complainant, “Coalition Against Genocide” (CAG) is an online portal which is hosted by another online portal calling itself, “The Forum of Indian Leftists” (FOIL), both of which promote arguably “controversial political positions.” FOIL describes itself as “'a clearinghouse for radical Indian activists in the United States, Canada and England.” FOIL has created a web of online portals or “organizations,” including CAG and many of its “members,” a number of which promote “political positions” which fall into a variety of categories including, Hinduphobic, pro­separatist (primarily in India), anti­religion, anti­Israel, anti­India, and anti­American. 5. Chairman of the Board of Trustees, Imam Abdul Malik Mujahid and a Dr. Shaik Ubaid have cofounded or worked together in a number of organizations, including but not limited to CAG, Muslim Peace Coalition, and Burma Task Force ­ USA. Given that Dr. Ubaid is extensively quoted on behalf of CAG in a number of media outlets commending and welcoming the withdrawal merits an explanation to the organizers and the trustees left out of the process on the decision making process and how potential conflicts of interests are handled. Furthermore, it demonstrates the need for transparency. 6. The CPWR has, in effect (regardless of intentions), chosen sides without explaining or defining who or what it deems “controversial,” and without dialoging with those who have been accused of “promoting controversial political positions.” CPWR needs to develop clear protocols on such questions as the following, so that the CPWR is consistent in its engagement with religious communities throughout the world: What does the CPWR consider “controversial political positions”? Is being opposed to gay marriage controversial? If so, will CPWR avoid attendance or sponsorship with Catholic or Mormon organizations which may be lobbying against marriage equality? How about a mosque, a few members of which have run away from their families and joined Al­Shabbab? Should such an organization be alienated or engaged in interreligious dialogue? What about those organizations which Hindus find controversial because of their use of humanitarian aid as inducement to “save souls,” ie. engaging in predatory proselytization? Would the CPWR capitulate to Hindu demands to withdraw sponsorship from such organizations? 7. Please understand that for Hindus worldwide, the Parliament is synonymous with Swami Vivekananda and his legacy. That the CPWR withdrew from an event celebrating his 150th birth anniversary, and that too in Chicago, only amplifies the lack of understanding and respect demonstrated by the CPWR. We therefore respectfully ask that the CPWR: 1. Reverse the decision to withdraw, and not only continue as a co­sponsor, but actively participate in the event. 2. Publicly apologize to the organizers and to CPWR trustees Anant Rambachan and Anju Bhargava. The issue here is not of supporting or not supporting any organization allegedly promoting controversial political positions, but one of the CPWR’s role in the world of interreligious engagement and its treatment of Hindus in particular. The way in which the CPWR failed to equitably handle this situation unfortunately calls into question the ability and will of the CPWR to meet its mandate to “cultivate harmony among the world's religious and spiritual communities and foster their engagement with the world and its guiding institutions in order to achieve a just, peaceful and sustainable world.” There is still time, however, to undo a wrong and move towards constructive engagement and the healing of wounds. We ask that the above­mentioned requests be addressed immediately. Sincerely, Religious Leaders Ma Nithya Dhyanatmananda Nithyananda University, Los Angeles Ma Nithya Prematma Ananda Swamini Nithyananda Vedic Temple, Los Angeles SriNithya Tejomayananda Swami Director, Nithyananda Meditation Academy, Canada Swami Aksharananda Saraswati Vidya Niketan, Guyana Swami Dayananda Saraswati Arsha Vidya Gurukulum and Convener of the Hindu Dharma Acharya Sabha Swami Sarvaananda Hindu Chaplain and Integral Yoga Minister Swami Sarveshananda National Director Chinmaya Yuva Kendra (CHYK West) and Acharya Chinmaya Mission Dallas Swami Shantananda Acharya Chinmaya Mission New Jersey Swami Siddhananda Acharya Chinmaya Mission Pennsylvania Political Leaders Senator Waytha Moorthy Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Government of Malaysia Chair, HINDRAF Organizations American Hindus Against Defamation American Institute of Vedic Studies Arya Samaj of Greater Houston Association of United Hindu Jain Temples; Metro Washington, D.C. Area Bharat Swabhiman Overseas Bhutanese Community in California (BCC) Federation of Indo Americans of Northern California Gandhi Foundation of USA Global Hindu Heritage Foundation Havyaka Association of Americas Hindu American Foundation Hindu American Seva Communities Hindu Association of West Texas Hindu Charities for America Hindu Council of Australia Hindu Mandir Executives’ Conference Hindu Swayamsevak Sangh Hindu Temple of Woodlands; TX Hindu Temple of Toledo, OH Hindu Temple Society of North America Hindu University of America; Orlando, FL India Awareness Foundation India Development and Relief Fund Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam Of Houston Nithyananda Dhyanapeetam of Phoenix Nithyananda Meditation Academy Nithyananda University, Los Angeles Nithyananda Vedic Temple, Bay Area Nithyananda Vedic Temple, Los Angeles Nithyananda Vedic Temple, Ohio Nithyananda Vedic Temple, Seattle Patanjali Yogpeeth (USA) Radha Madhav Dham Sahayog Foundation (USA) Shri Sanatan Mandir; Parsippany, NJ Sunnyvale Hindu Temple; Sunnyvale, CA The Hindu Temple Society of North America Vipra Maha Sabha Vishwa Hindu Parishad of America Leaders from the Hindu and Interfaith Communities (Titles are for affiliation purposes only) Prof. Nihal Agar Chairman, Hindu Council of Australia Ram Agarwal Co­founder, Hindu University of America; Orlando, FL Vishal Agarwal Hindu Society of Minnesota; Maple Grove, MN Founder, Hindu American Temple School Bhishma K. Agnihotri Chairman of Board, Bharat Swabhiman Overseas Shekhar Agrawal President, Patanjali Yogpeeth (USA) Vasanti Aharam Association of United Hindu Jain Temples; Metro Washington,