Russia to ban Bhagvad Githa and ISKCON

Moscow: In one of the most outrageous order a court in Russia has banned Bhagvad Githa by accusing the holy book as one which promotes hatred against others.

The ever increasing popularity of Hinduism and Krishna Consciousness driven by ISKCON in European countries has alarmed the orthodox church in Russia.

The case against the widely accepted Holy book across the world began in September when  prosecutors in Tomsk filed charges in the city’s Leninsky District Court saying the text attacks practitioners of other religions.

Yury Pleshakov, spokesman for the Russian branch of the International Society for Krishna Consciousness, said the whole case is absurd.

“It would be dangerous that along with [the book], a billion citizens of the world would be considered extremists,” he said, referring to the population of India where the book is considered a national treasure.

The case is currently on hold after Judge Galina Butenko ordered experts at Kemerovo State University in Tomsk to present further analysis, but it is expected to resume Thursday.

Noted Hindu studies expert, Boris Falikov, told The Moscow Times that the testimony was absurd.
“The translation and comments made by Swami Prabhupada was called extremist because the quotes were taken out of context,” Falikov said.
“Using such a nonscientific approach, you can even call the Quran or the Bible extremist literature,” he said.
Indeed, the holy books of both Islam and Christianity contain norms no longer embraced by Western society, such as slavery and polygamy.

Falikov pointed out that the original “Bhagavad Gita” is widely considered one of the most respected Hindu books and was admired by the likes of Leo Tolstoy and Albert Einstein.

“I don’t think that they would admire the book if it really spread religious hatred and humiliated human dignity,” he said.

The move to ban the holy book is said to be to move the ISKCON Movemnt in Russia.

Pleshakov, the Krishna spokesman, refrained from making any negative comments about the Orthodox Church, saying Krishna followers treat it “with respect.”
Instead, he blamed the judicial system.
“If we live a country based on the rule of law, the laws should work ideally, but often even an educated judge can end up in dead-end situation,” he said

Read Full detailed report at : http://www.themoscowtimes.com/news/article/krishna-holy-book-faces-ban-in-tomsk/448803.html#ixzz1fBtlDuCN
The Moscow Times

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