Hindus concerned about rising racist violence against Indians in Ukraine ahead of Euro 2012

Increasing record of event involving racist violence against people of Indian descent in Ukraine worry Hindus as the country is set to host Euro 2012 alongside with neighbouring Poland.

Ukraine / NationalTurk – Hindu statesman Rajan Zed’s latest statement calls attention to increasing reports of racist violence against Indians in Euro 2012 hosts, Ukraine. Zed said that if Ukraine could not ensure the safety of people of Indian descent from such incidents, UEFA should withdraw the Euro 2012 from Ukraine.

Euro 2012, the 14th European Football Championship for national football teams organized by UEFA, is scheduled to be held in stadiums at Kyiv, Donetsk, Kharkiv and Lviv in Ukraine (besides Poland) from 8th of June to 1st of July this summer. Sixteen teams will participate in the much acclaimes football festival. Yet a long shadow is about to darken the sunny atmosphere in Ukraine.

According to recent reports, horrified Indian students faced vicious racially motivated assault in Metalist Stadium in Kharkiv few weeks back. In capital Kyiv; an Indian man was attacked near Libidskaya metro station in front of many people in December last, another Indian was beaten at Maidan Nezalezhnosti in March, while another was attacked near his apartment in April, reports suggest.

Hate Crimes in football : Authorities need to monitor hate crimes closely in Ukraine

Rajan Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, urged leaders of the majority Orthodox Christian Church and other religions/denominations in Ukraine to openly come out against racism, because religion told us to help the helpless. Authorities needed to monitor hate crimes closely. This reported abuse of people of Indian descent, just because they looked different, was not acceptable, Zed points out.

Ukraine Racism ahead of Euro 2012 ‘s : a growing concern

Rajan Zed urged personal intervention of Ukrainian President Viktor Fedorovych Yanukovych and Prime Minister Mykola Yanovych Azarov on the issue of reported racism, be it on Indians or any other foreigners who live or work in Ukraine. Ukraine, Europe’s second largest country and world’s third biggest grain exporter and the country of Zbruch Idol, Saint Sophia Cathedral, musician Mykola Lysenko and legendary pole-vaulter Sergey Bubka should be more welcoming of the foreigners who looked different, Zed stressed.

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