Tulsi Gabbard Calls For End To Violence Against Minorities In Bangladesh

Washington: An influential Indian- American lawmaker on Thursday called for an end to violence against atheists, secularists, Hindus, Buddhists and other religious minorities in Bangladesh.

"In Bangladesh, discrimination and deadly violence against atheists, secularists, Hindus, Buddhists, and other religious minorities has unfortunately become a regular occurrence," Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard said in a statement on the House Floor.

The two-term Democratic lawmaker from Hawaii, Ms Gabbard is the first Hindu to be elected to the US House of Representatives.

"This underscores the absolute necessity of not only defeating this global wave of intolerance, but standing up and fighting for the right of others to freely express their views regardless of whether you agree with those views or not," she said.

"In Bangladesh, the horrendous, brutal street assassinations of members of minority religions, secularists, and atheists violate every single value we hold dear," she said.

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Just two weeks ago, 28-year-old Nazimuddin Samad was hacked to death in Dhaka, Bangladesh after speaking out against the persecution of religious minorities on social media, she noted.