Open Letter to the Global Community, Human Rights Organizations, and World Leaders

 

Here is the illustration depicting the open letter's message, highlighting the urgent need for global action against minority oppression in South Asia.

Subject: Addressing Silence and Inaction Amidst Rising Persecution of Minorities in South Asia

Dear Global Leaders, Human Rights Advocates, and Organizations,

I, Lenin Raghuvanshi, 2007 Gwangju Human Rights Awardee and Founder-Convenor of the People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR), write to you with deep concern about the growing persecution of minorities across South Asia. This letter is both an appeal and a call to action against the silence and inaction of globally celebrated figures like Adilur Rahman Khan and Dr. Muhammad Yunus amidst this crisis.

In Bangladesh, the recent arrest of Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu, a revered Hindu monk and advocate for minority rights, under baseless charges of sedition, exemplifies the targeted oppression faced by minorities. Reports of violence against Hindus, attacks on temples, and displacement of marginalized communities have surged under the interim government led by Dr. Muhammad Yunus. Despite his legacy as a Nobel laureate advocating peace and justice, his silence in addressing these atrocities undermines the principles he is known for.

Equally troubling is the muted response from Adilur Rahman Khan, a distinguished human rights defender whose previous stands, including opposition to Aung San Suu Kyi's complicity in the Rohingya genocide, were widely applauded. The May 18 Memorial Foundation rightly stripped Aung San Suu Kyi of the Gwangju Prize for Human Rights, a decision I and many others supported. Today, Adilur’s reluctance to condemn the violence against minorities underlines a disturbing inconsistency in human rights advocacy.

While South Asia is witnessing intensified attacks on minorities, including India’s own descent into corporate-driven fascism, the silence of leaders with influential platforms is a profound betrayal of the values we collectively uphold.

An Urgent Call for Action

1. Demand Accountability from Adilur Rahman Khan and Dr. Muhammad Yunus:

   • World leaders and human rights organizations must urge these figures to condemn the ongoing persecution in Bangladesh and advocate for the protection of vulnerable communities.

2. Address the Broader Crisis in South Asia:

   • Oppression of minorities is not confined to one nation. Across the region, targeted attacks, systemic discrimination, and authoritarian regimes are threatening peace and pluralism. The global community must respond with a united front.

3. Support Grassroots Movements and Activists:

   • Activists like Chinmoy Krishna Prabhu, who fight for justice at great personal risk, represent the true spirit of human rights. Their work must be amplified and safeguarded.

4. Oppose Corporate Fascism and State-Backed Oppression:

   • In India, we continue to oppose corporate fascism and majoritarian policies that marginalize minorities and undermine democracy. Similar struggles are mirrored across the region. A collective global effort is essential to combat these trends.

Conclusion

The fight for human rights requires unwavering commitment, consistency, and accountability. The silence of influential figures like Adilur Rahman Khan and Dr. Muhammad Yunus weakens our collective struggle for justice. Let us remind them—and ourselves—that the integrity of human rights advocacy lies in action, not just ideals.

I urge world leaders, human rights organizations, and the global community to stand in solidarity with oppressed minorities, challenge systemic violence, and hold those in power accountable.

Let us not allow silence to be an accomplice to oppression. Together, we can ensure that justice and dignity are not mere aspirations but realities for all.

Yours in solidarity,
Lenin Raghuvanshi
Founder-Convenor, People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Rights (PVCHR)
2007 Gwangju Human Rights Awardee
Senior Advisor, JanMitra Nyas
Visiting Senior Fellow, IMPRI Impact and Policy Research Institute

Contact:
SA 4/2 A Daulatpur, Varanasi - 221002, India
Mobile: +91-9335688938
Email: lenin@pvchr.asia
Website: PVCHR Website