Drishtipat events inc. Ahmadiya movie screening in DC tonight (Friday)

[rafiq]

Those of you in DC may want to attend tonight's screening of "Muslims or Heretics?". It is presented by Drishtipat DC and director Naeem Mohaimen will be on hand for a Q&A session.

DC screening of "Muslims or Heretics?"



The Ahmadiyas, are a Muslim sect that is at the center of a growing storm in South Asia. Because they believe in a Prophet after Mohammed, orthodox Islamic groups accuse them of "spoiling the spirit of Islam." In 1974, after decades of violent protests, Islamic extremists succeeded in banning the Ahmadiyyas in Pakistan. Today, Pakistani Ahmadiyyas cannot call themselves Muslim, pray, or build mosques. Even in death, there is no escape from the state-- the law prohibits putting Islamic prayers on Ahmadiyya gravestones. In 2003, the anti-Ahmadiyya campaign spread to Bangladesh, which was once part of Pakistan. In January 2004, the government banned all Ahmadiyya books, and followed this with a push for Blasphemy Law.
The banning of Ahmadiayya publications is in violation of the rights of all Ahmadiyyas, and indeed of other citizens of Bangladesh who may wish to read their publications, to the rights of free of expression, freedom of religion, and the right to be treated only in accordance with law. In a democratic country and open society, individuals, religious groups, and political parities should be free to publish their viewpoints, and to practice their own religion without causing harm to others.

Our Program:

Screening of Documentary Film
MUSLIMS OR HERETICS?
Director: Naeem Mohaiemen
2004. Bangladesh. 29 min.
Bengali/English with English subtitles

Q/A session with Naeem Mohaiemen and a panel discussion on the topic
Date/Time:

Friday, December 3rd, 2004
Screening begins at 7pm
This event is free and open to the public

Location:

The Elliot School of International Affairs
George Washington University
1957 E Street NW Room 213
Washington DC

Directions:

Metro: Farragut North on RED line OR Farragut West on ORANGE or BLUE lines.

Edited on, December 3, 2004, 6:43 PM GMT, by rafiq.
Reason: Title

[rafiq]

Drishtipat has taken elaborate program to chalk out human rights day
and victory day in December. Below is a list of events spanning across three
continents and 4 cities:

> City: London
> Date: Dec 2nd, 2004
> Location:SOAC, Russel Square Campus.
> http://www.soas.ac.uk/contact/location.cfm?navid=1110
> <http://www.soas.ac.uk/contact/location.cfm?navid=1110>
> Event: Free Screening of award winning "Abar Ashibo Fire", Suggested
> Donation for the film's expense for the film maker.
>
>
> City:Washington DC
> Date: Dec 3rd, 2004
> Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
> Location:1957 E Street NW, Room 213
> School of International Affairs George Washington University, Washington
> DC
> Event: Protect Freedom of Religion in Bangladesh. Please join the
> Drishtipat DC team for the D.C. premier of "Muslims or Heretics?" followed
> by a discussion panel.
> http://www.drishtipat.org/dc/morh.htm
> <http://www.drishtipat.org/dc/morh.htm>
>
>
> City: Dhaka
> Date: Dec 12th, 2004
> Location: Liberation War Museum
> Event: Ceremony to present funding to the selected women of 1971.
>
>
> City: New York
> Date: Dec 13th, 2004
> Location: Roone Alredge Cinema at Lerner hall, Columbia University,
> Trains 1/9 to 116th street
>
> Event:

DRISHTIPAT presents an Award Winning Documentary, My Migrant Soul, followed by
a panel discussion with a renowned political science scholar, Dr. Rounaq Jahan
and a renowned Bangladeshi columnist and writer, Hasan Ferdous.

ROONE ALREDGE CINEMA AT LERNER HALL
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY
2920 BROADWAY, NY 10027
TRAINS 1/9 TO 116TH ST.
7 PM DEC. 13, 2004

>
> Please come and join and tell others to come.
>
With this Drishtipat is concluding a remarkable year where it has
grown tremendously with local chapters and a lot of new and energetic
members. The above mentioned events are evidence of that energy. We have
more exciting plans coming in the near future. Stay tuned for more updates.
Our website also has been revamped. We have added two new sections called
DP Internal News and DP HR Portal. Please browse through it and give us
your feedback at http://www.drishtipat.org <http://www.drishtipat.org>

[Pundit]

They believe in a Prophet after Mohammed (PBUH) you say ? I believe they are heretics then. Though that does not mean that violence ought to perpetrated upon them ! But what to do instead ? Hmm....

Its one thing to have an "open society" and another thing to diminish the significance of our Prophet.

But I think we've had enough discussion on the Ahmadiya sect. in this forum.

My personal opinion is that Dristipat is simply another vehicle of the Socialists (Read: Communists) to throw ink on Islam whenever they can. In this regard, they are simply exploiting the plight of the Ahmd. sect.

However, if Dristipath by doing so is somewhat offsetting the nonsense perpetrated by the fundamentalists, then I could certainly appreciate that to some level.

For me, the more important point is to be balanced.

[rafiq]

Pundit, I really think you should go tonight since you live nearby. Your viewpoints would be welcomed.


btw after reading your post again it's not clear what you really stand for. A bit conflicted it seems? Maybe take a position on one side or the other of the issue? Anyway, your search for balance should include a viewing of the documentary, shouldn't it? If you can stand to be surrounded by Islam-hating communists. I really hope you do go and engage in dialogue - it's much harder work than posting anonymously on this forum, isn't it?

Edited on, December 3, 2004, 9:47 PM GMT, by rafiq.

[Pundit]

Watching the document would require me to also watch a jamaati document attempting to expose the fallacy of the Ahmd. belief, right - just for the sake of wanting to strike balance ?

That I am afraid will be too much brain-washing for one life time.

But on a serious note, I would have gone but if there were not another engagement. Dristipat's DC activity is usually considerably more muted than elsewhere. So this would have been an exception.

[rafiq]

Earlier this year, the Bangladesh human rights organization, Drishtipat, raised over $20,000 for women war veterans of the 1971 Liberation War. The Liberation War Museum and Ain o Shalish Kendro were the local Bangladesh partners in the campaign. Due to new NGO money transfer regulations, there were some delays in transferring the funds. The beneficiaries were finally recognized and presented with their checks last Dec 12th in Dhaka, as part of the ongoing Victory Day commemorations.

Banglacricket members were among donors and supporters of this campaign and I thank you on behalf of Drishtipat.

There was some coverage in Prothom Alo but I'm having trouble with that link so here is another one from Bhorer Kagoj:

Press Report on Drishtipat/Liberation War Museum program