March 29, 2011 > Speaker series highlights Hindu minorities Speaker series highlights Hindu minorities Submitted By Dr. Hema Patel The Hindu American Foundation (HAF) invites the community to its second Northern California Speaker Series event, titled "The Plight of Hindu Minorities." Keynote Speaker Waytha Moorthy is a lawyer and human rights advocate for minorities in Malaysia, and the leader and founder of the Hindu Rights Action Force (HINDRAF; http://www.hindraf.org/). In November 2007, HINDRAF organized a mammoth rally of 50,000 Hindus and ethnic Indians in a peaceful protest against the Malaysian government for its mistreatment and marginalization of Indians. This was brutally responded to by Malaysian security forces and Moorthy was jailed a number of times along with hundreds of other protesters. He has been living in exile in London since the Malaysian government revoked his passport. Though HINDRAF was banned, it continues to raise various human rights issues including stopping demolitions of Hindu temples; advocating for freedom to convert to Hinduism and raise children as Hindus; advocating for educational rights, jobs, and economic opportunities for Malaysian Indians because Malaysia's apartheid policies favor the Muslim Malay majority; and an end to police brutality against Hindus and Indians. Moorthy will be joined by panelists Samir Kalra, former HAF Human Rights Coordinator and Bay Area Working Group member, and Jeevan Zutshi, founder of Indo-American Community Federation (IACF-USA). For more information contact Dr. Hema Patel at (510) 299-3404 or Malini Kumar at (951) 491-4722. "The Plight of Hindu Minorities" Saturday, April 2 2:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Shreemaya Krishnadham Cultural and Community Center 25 Corning Ave., Milpitas (510) 299-3404 Free