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Hindus welcome Saudi Arabia move of women participation in elections

Hindus have welcomed Saudi Arabia’s historic announcement of giving right to women to vote and run in future municipal elections and to be appointed to all-male influential advisory Shura Council from next term.

Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, hailed it as a “step in the right direction”.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, commended Saudi Arabia King Abdullah Bin-Abd-al-Aziz Al Saud for this extraordinary, groundbreaking, bold and long- awaited political reform, giving women an important role in the kingdom and society in an announcement made on September 25.

Rajan Zed also praised senior ulema for reportedly supporting King’s initiative, which is a major advancement for the rights of women in this conservative society.

Zed pointed out that women had made significant contributions to Saudi society and this step would further their roles in the advancement of the country and world. This was an important positive step forward and raised hopes.

According to reports, women are not issued driving licenses in Saudi Arabia, need permission from a male relative to participate in public life and segregation of the sexes is enforced. Municipal elections are the only public polls in Saudi Arabia filling half of the council seats, while other half are government appointed. Next municipal elections with women participation will be held in 2015.

Established in 1932, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, reportedly world’s dominant oil producer sitting on largest hydrocarbon reserves, is birthplace of Prophet Muhammad, cradle of Islam and land of two holiest mosques in Mecca (Masjid al-Haram) and Medina (Al-Masjid al-Nabawi). It is also home to Madain Saleh, huge sand dunes, Arabian oryx, spectacular reefs, and traditional Bedouin hospitality.

Hindus welcome Catalonia bullfighting ban

Hindus have welcomed Catalonia (Spain) ban on age-old tradition of bullfighting, which takes effect on January one.

Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, applauded Catalonia for this wonderful decision and asked other regions of Spain also to do the same to end this barbaric, inhumane, horrendous, and cruel practice.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, also urged other countries of the world to ban bullfighting practice. European Union should impose a Europe-wide ban on all blood-sports. People, whose jobs were thus affected, should be rehabilitated in other jobs with related training.

Rajan Zed stressed that non-violence was a greatest virtue. We had long been out of the caves. Let us get rid of these outdated traditions. World would be a better place without these blood-sports.

Sunday saw the last fights in Catalonia of the 2011 season. Bullfighting has already been banned in Canary Islands region of Spain since 1991.

Hindus urge new Jewish Center for Interreligious Dialogue be all-inclusive

Hindus have welcomed famed Jewish Theological Seminary (JTS) of New York on launching of Milstein Center for Interreligious Dialogue, calling it a “step in the right direction”.

This Center, under the director Rabbi Burton L. Visotzky, will be committed to interreligious dialogue and partnership. Howard Milstein, president of New York Private Bank and Trust, who funded the Center with a $2 million gift, reportedly believes in educating the next generation of religious leaders to promote mutual respect among all faiths.

Commending this effort to bring various religions together and finding common ground, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada (USA) today, said that religion was the most powerful, complex and far-reaching force in our society, so we must take it seriously. And we all knew that religion comprised much more than our own particular tradition/experience.

Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, pointed out that in our shared pursuit for the truth, we could learn from one another and thus could arrive nearer to the truth. As dialogue brought us reciprocal enrichment, we would be spiritually richer than before the contact.

Rajan Zed hoped that Hinduism,  and other world religions would be included in this inter-religious experiment if it aimed to become really inclusive inter-religious world-class Center.

Kurt Cardinal Koch, president of the Vatican’s Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity, will be the guest of honor at inaugural event on October 31.

Founded in 1886, mission of JTS includes "strengthening Jewish tradition, Jewish lives, and Jewish communities” and serves Conservative Judaism. Arnold M. Eisen is the Chancellor while Abby Joseph Cohen is Trustees Chair.