Dear Friends,
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Terai Human Rights Defenders Alliance (THRDA) that 50 Dalit households are barred from entering the local Shiva Temple located at Jhawani, Bara District, despite providing monetary donations and their labor for its construction. The Dalits intend to enter the temple, and there is hence fear of escalating violence. The provincial government, human rights organizations and media must support the local Dalit community and prevent possible violence.
CASE NARRATIVE:
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has received information from the Terai Human Rights Defenders Alliance (THRDA) that Dalits are barred from visiting the Shiva Temple located at Jhawani, Simraungadh Municipality-7 of Bara District for the last 40 years since the temple was built. Dalits are being barred from offering obeisance in the temple at the time of auspicious occasions and weddings. They are not even allowed to offer Jal (pure water) to the temple, and are also not allowed to even touch the walls of the temples.
Dalits have been raising voice against this discrimination for the last five years. The members of the so-called higher caste are not allowing ‘untouchables’ (Dalits) to enter the temple. The Dalit community made equal contribution in the construction of the temple by donating their labor and money. Fifty Dalit households, Dusadh and Chamar families, donated 100-500 NPR, as per their economic status, for the construction of the temple, and they donated their one to three days of labor.
Non-Dalits often threaten to abduct Dalit members or even kill them if they enter the temple. In addition, non-Dalits are even ready to abandon the temple and establish a new one for themselves if Dalits enter.
Dalits provided all kinds of help to build the temple, and now wonder how the temple built with their contribution could become impure if they enter it.
Dalits are living under threat as they plan to enter the temple in the near future. The Mayor, Vijay Kumar Yadav, has been discussing with Dalits and going to discuss it with non-Dalits to resolve the issue. The Mayor plans to enter the temple on the occasion of Shiva Puja (worship) after 10 months along with Dalits, and promised that the temple will be open for Dalits after that.
There is no doubt that Dalits of Jhawani Bara District want to enter the Shiva Temple. If it happens without enough planning, there will be escalation of violence. It must be tackled with enough community discussion, and Dalits must be allowed to enter the temple without any hindrance.
SUGGESTED ACTION:
Please write letters to the following authorities, calling on them to take the necessary action to prevent violence as Dalits enter the temple.
The AHRC is writing a separate letter to the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, requesting his intervention in this case.
To support this case, please click here: SEND APPEAL LETTER
SAMPLE LETTER
Dear ___________,
NEPAL: Dalits barred from entering temple in Bara district
Name of victims: 50 households of Jhawani, Simraungadh Municipality-7 of Bara District of Nepal
Name of alleged perpetrators: Non-Dalits residents of Jhawani, Simraungadh Municipality-7 of Bara District of Nepal
Date of incident: 1978 to the present
Place of incident: Shiva Temple located at Jhawani, Simraungadh Municipality-7 of Bara District, Province 2, Nepal
I am writing to voice my deep concern regarding Dalits of Jhawani who are barred from visiting the Shiva Temple located at Jhawani, Simraungadh Municipality-7 of Bara District for the last 40 years since the temple was built. Dalits are being barred from offering obeisance in the temple at the time of auspicious occasions and weddings. They are not even allowed to offer Jal (pure water) to the temple, and are also not allowed to even touch the walls of the temples.
Dalits have been raising voice against this discrimination for the last five years. The members of the so-called higher caste are not allowing ‘untouchables’ (Dalits) to enter the temple. The Dalit community made equal contribution in the construction of the temple by donating their labor and money. Fifty Dalit households, Dusadh and Chamar families, donated 100-500 NPR, as per their economic status, for the construction of the temple, and they donated their one to three days of labor.
Non-Dalits often threaten to abduct Dalit members or even kill them if they enter the temple. In addition, non-Dalits are even ready to abandon the temple and establish a new one for themselves if Dalits enter.
Dalits provided all kinds of help to build the temple, and now wonder how the temple built with their contribution could become impure if they enter it.
Dalits are living under threat as they plan to enter the temple in the near future. The Mayor, Vijay Kumar Yadav, has been discussing with Dalits and going to discuss it with non-Dalits to resolve the issue. The Mayor plans to enter the temple on the occasion of Shiva Puja (worship) after 10 months along with Dalits, and promised that the temple will be open for Dalits after that.
There is no doubt that Dalits of Jhawani Bara District want to enter the Shiva Temple. If it happens without enough planning, there will be escalation of violence. It must be tackled with enough community discussion, and Dalits must be allowed to enter the temple without any hindrance.
I look forward to your prompt action in this matter.
Yours Sincerely,
……………….
PLEASE SEND YOUR LETTERS TO:
1. Mr. Khadga Prasad Sharma Oli
Prime Minister
Office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers of Nepal
Singh Durbar, Kathmandu
P.O. Box: 23312
NEPAL
Tel: +977 1 4211000
Fax: +977 1 4211086
Email: info@opmcm.gov.np
2. Mr. Ram Bahadur Thapa ‘Badal’
Home Minister
Ministry of Home Affairs
Singh Durbar, Kathmandu
NEPAL
Fax: +977 1 421-1257, 421-1286
Email: gunaso@moha.gov.np
3. Mr. Anupraj Sharma
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
Pulchowk, Lalitpur
NEPAL
Fax: +977 1 55 47973
Tel: +977 1 5010015
E-mail: complaints@nhrcnepal.org or nhrc@nhrcnepal.org
4. Mr. Agni Prasad Kharel
Attorney General
Office of Attorney General
Ramshah Path, Kathmandu
NEPAL
Tel: +977 1 4240210, +977 1 4262548, +977 1 4262394
Fax: +977 1 4262582 / 4218051
Email: info@attorneygeneral.gov.np
5. Mr. Sarbendra Khanal
Inspector General of Police
Police Head Quarters
Naxal, Kathmandu
NEPAL
Fax: +977 1 4415593
Tel: +977 1 4412432
Email: phqigs@nepalpolice.gov.np
Thank you.
Urgent Appeals Program
Asian Human Rights Commission (ua@ahrc.asia)
