Bhagvad Gita faces legal ban in Russia

[LurkerBaba]

'Bhagvad Gita' faces 'extremist' branding, legal ban in Russia - The Economic Times

MOSCOW: Bhagvad Gita, one of the most sacred Hindu religious texts, is facing a legal ban and the prospect of being branded as "an extremist" literature across Russia, with a court in Siberia's Tomsk city all set to deliver its final verdict on Monday in a case filed by state prosecutors.

 

[Zebra]

Bhagavad Gita Under Renewed Threat of Being Banned in Russia

By Contributor for ISKCON News on 16 Dec 2011

The Russian devotees recently released a petition:

"Bhagavad-gita As It Is, one of the most respected holy scriptures of the world today, is under the threat of being banned in Russia.

The court proceedings will resume in Siberian city Tomsk, Russia, on Monday 19th. The persecutors in Tomsk suggest that the widely distributed book translated and commented upon by A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada should be included in the Justice Ministry's list of banned extremist literature.

Bhagavad-gita As It Is is translated in more than 80 languages. Over 100 million copies of this book was distributed to date all over the world! Millions of people in the world today consider it as the main book in their life.

The persecutors with great determination and vigor are pushing through this absurd case. During the first three court hearings, the testimony of the Tomsk experts upon which the persecutors built their case for the court was recognized as «inadequate». However, the Persecutor's office ordered the new testimony. Noteworthy, that the testimony was requested not from the well-known experts of Hinduism from Moscow, but from some unknown experts from Kemerovo State University. This move clearly suggests that the court decision is already predestined. This practice brings to memory the Middle Age Inquisition, Witch hunting, burning of books and the persecution of the dissidents during Soviet period of Russian history.

Tomsk Ombudsperson, eminent scholars of Hinduism, the members of the Public Chamber of Russian Federation, representatives of Indian community in Russia, and people belonging to different religious denominations in Russia have already expressed their perplexity and outrage caused by the activities of Tomsk persecutors.

We demand to stop the court over the Holy Scripture! These initiatives of the Tomsk Persecutor's Office offend the religious sentiments of all the followers of Hinduism and bring disgrace to the country of Russia.

Once you sign the petition - you will receive e-mail asking you to confirm your vote. This is very important - otherwise it will be canceled. And please share this link to your friends."

Суд над Бхагавад-гитой / Attempt to ban Bhagavad-gita - Petitions24.com

Bhagavad Gita Under Renewed Threat of Being Banned in Russia | ISKCON News

 

[Zebra]

1) Jehovah's Witness websites
2)Russian translation of a key book for Hare Krishna devotees – the Bhagavad-Gita
3)Turkish Muslim theologian Said Nursi,

They all are facing "extremism" charges .

 

[Tshering22]

And Abrahamic organized religions are so peaceful.. we can see it shining through in 170 countries....

 

[agentperry]

sighh...there was a time when Indian delegation was met by saree clad russian ladies and use of tulsi was more popular in russia than India that too when atmosphere dont favor tulsi in russia.

since years they acted against the hindu faith destroying iskon temples and now finally banning bhagwad gita

 

[Dovah]

Who cares what they do in their country.

 

[Param]

Dump the T90 and other crappy equipment we buy from them.

 

[sesha_maruthi27]

What religion do the RUSSIANS commonly follow. Is it SHAMANISM..........

 

[Dovah]

What religion do the RUSSIANS commonly follow. Is it SHAMANISM..........

A lot of them are atheists, but Orthodox Christianity is prevalent there.

 

[Galaxy]

I am quite surprised with this news. Russia is more like an Atheist country with little flexibility in religious tolerance. Muslims are already in large number there and few millions illegal immigrants from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan too. Russia might be doing under Mullahs pressure. (May be, I am not sure)

MMS should talk to Russian counterparts to protect Indian sentiments. (Although I don't think it's possible nor Congress will ever worry about Indian religion. )

Russia should concentrate more on serious threats from Chechnya and CAR nations and should not worry about peaceful Indian religions.

 

[Tshering22]

And Abrahamic organized religions are so peaceful.. we can see it shining through in 170 countries....

 

[The Messiah]

Dump the T90 and other crappy equipment we buy from them.

and go into battle on horse back ? till we make 75%+ weapons ourselves...these statements sound idiotic.

case is in court...when court agrees then you have right to rant and rave.

 

[Dovah]

till we make 75%+ weapons ourselves...these statements sound idiotic.

+1


+10 words

 

[sesha_maruthi27]

I saw in a RUSSIAN web-site that the people of RUSSIA follow SHAMANISM. Here is the link
The mysteries of shamanism can never be unveiled - English pravda.ru

 

[Param]

and go into battle on horse back ? till we make 75%+ weapons ourselves...these statements sound idiotic.

case is in court...when court agrees then you have right to rant and rave.

Build more Arjuns.

The bad habit of importing too much weaponry will never allow us to make weapons of our own.

 

[agentperry]

and go into battle on horse back ? till we make 75%+ weapons ourselves...these statements sound idiotic.

case is in court...when court agrees then you have right to rant and rave.

you are missing one point highness. we can go shameless like pakistani changing masters...

 

[The Messiah]

I am quite surprised with this news. Russia is more like an Atheist country with little flexibility in religious tolerance. Muslims are already in large number there and few millions illegal immigrants from Tajikistan and Uzbekistan too. Russia might be doing under Mullahs pressure. (May be, I am not sure)

MMS should talk to Russian counterparts to protect Indian sentiments. (Although I don't think it's possible nor Congress will ever worry about Indian religion. )

Russia should concentrate more on serious threats from Chechnya and CAR nations and should not worry about peaceful Indian religions.

Not everything is done my muslims.

The relationship between the church and the Krishnas has long been tense, with local Orthodox officials complaining that the society seeks to lure Russians away from traditional beliefs.

In 2006, officials in the Tula Orthodox diocese filed a complaint after local Krishnas tried to involve residents in the celebration of a Krishna holiday.

That has led to much speculation in Tomsk media that the Orthodox Church was behind the attempt to ban the book.

But a spokesman for the Tomsk diocese, who only identified himself as Father Viktor, said church officials had nothing to do with the legal efforts.

Krishna Holy Book Faces Ban in Tomsk | News | The Moscow Times

 

[nrj]

Who in Russia demanding removal of such ban on Gita?

 

[Zebra]

The Ombudsman of Tomsk Urged the Initiators of the "Bhagavad-gita Trial" to Come to Their Senses

By Contributor for 70rus.org on 14 Oct 2011

Human Rights Commissioner for Russia`s Tomsk region Nelly Krechetova urged the initiators of the trial of the main book of the Society for Krishna Consciousness, "Bhagavad-Gita As It Is", urging them to rethink their approach, and announced the participation of the representative of the Ombudsman of the Russian Federation in the court on the Hare Krishna`s side - says the News Agency "Tomsk".

"The Commissioner for Human Rights in the Tomsk region has no right to interfere in the judicial process to represent the defendant. However, this right is available to the Commissioner for Human Rights of the Russian Federation. It is known that V. Lukin decided to entrust his representative to participate in this trial" – says the assistant of the ombudsman in Tomsk region.

In August 2011, in the Leninsky district court of Tomsk there were hearings on the recognition of "Bhagavad - gita as it is" as extremist. The trial was initiated by the prosecutor of the city of Tomsk, and the main argument was the decision of a commission of experts of Tomsk State University, which, according to the Ombudsman, "fell apart right in court." At present, the proceedings are suspended until December 1, 2011. A new judicial complex examination was appointed, this time it is the Kemerovo State University which was entrusted to carry it out.

Tomsk Ombudsman Nelly Krechetova announced her views on this court case.

"Firstly, I think of the very absurdity of the statement of question. This book is considered as sacred by almost a billion people around the world. In Russia "Bhagavad - gita as it is" has been freely available for 20 years. At the same time, it is published in more than 60 languages."- said Nelly Krechetova.

She also felt that the attempt to ban books is a limitation of the constitutional right to freedom of conscience.

"Secondly, the possible ban of the book, and, consequently, the prohibition of religious activities of its followers, will violate citizens' constitutional rights to freedom of conscience, freedom of religion and freedom of speech. The Society for Krishna Consciousness is an officially registered organization. Moreover, there has been no established cases of extremism during the last 20 years when the book was being widely spread on the territory of Russia", - said the Ombudsman.

In addition, she expressed surprise at the fact that the trial of the book was first initiated in Tomsk.

"Thirdly, it is particularly distressing that Tomsk acts as a "pioneer" in such dubious initiative. The "Bhagavad - gita as it is " was labelled to be as "extremist" by Tomsk expert commision, namely the department of philosophy and philology of Tomsk State University. Thus, we can "glorify" (in the meaning of "disgrace" – note of the translator) Tomsk not only within Russia but all over the world. We have to choose: either we are the innovative and tolerant, or, we are left behind in the deep past. Tomsk region already disclosed itself, when the barbaric decision about the demolition of the Hare Krishna houses in the village of Kandinka was carried out, "- said Nelly Krechetova.

In her address, the Ombudsman asked the initiators to change their minds and stop the trial of the book.

To read the original Russian report click here: Â Òîìñêå îìáóäñìåí ïðèçâàëà îäóìàòüñÿ èíèöèàòîðîâ ñóäà íàä «Áõàãàâàä – ãèòîé» — 70rus.org

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[civfanatic]

I saw in a RUSSIAN web-site that the people of RUSSIA follow SHAMANISM. Here is the link
The mysteries of shamanism can never be unveiled - English pravda.ru

There is a lot of pre-Christian Shamanist influence in Russia, mainly in the form of superstitions. But most Russians are either atheist/non-religious or Orthodox Christian.