Richard Benkin

Dr. Richard Benkin is an American Jewish human rights activist, co-founder of 'Interfaith Strength', journalist, writer and lecturer. He's also a member of Folks Magazine's Editorial Board since August 2011.[1]

Human rights activities

Benkin participated in efforts to release Bangladeshi journalist, Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, imprisoned after writing articles warning about the rise of Islamic radicals, and urging Bangladesh to recognize Israel. Benkin, like Choudhury, is an Advisory Board Member of Islam-Israel Fellowship.[2] Choudhury together formed Interfaith Strength to disseminate information about Choudhury's case. Choudhury was released from prison in 2004. Benkin said "In almost seven years since [he] was arrested, the Bangladeshi government has not brought forward one scintilla of credible evidence against this journalist; and its sole 'witness' continues to not show up."[3] In September 2005, the Bangladeshi government asked Benkin if he would help build a "positive image" of Bangladesh in the United States. Wanting to help the Bangladeshi people and advance US-Bangladesh relations, Benkin was advised to accept the challenge because Bangladesh had taken positive steps recently. After one month, however, a frustrated Benkin resigned from the role after serious disagreements with the Bangladeshi government.[4] On February 15, 2007,HOUSE RESOLUTION 64 passed the United States House Committee on Foreign Affairs without opposition.[5] The resolution called on the government of Bangladesh to drop all charges against Choudhury[6]

Congressman Mark Kirk presented a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition to Benkin on May 22, 2005 at Benkin's synagogue, Temple Chai in Long Grove. The certificate was awarded for Benkin's "commitment and dedication to preserving human rights in the case of Shoaib Choudhury.[7]

Views on Islamist Movement

In 2008 he compared Islamist militants in Kashmir to Palestinian militants, stating that Kashmir is a transitory goal in the Islamist goal to control India:

"Kashmir is South Asia’s West Bank. Just as Pakistan and its Islamist allies ultimately seek to turn all of India into an Islamic state; so, too, the Arabs have tried again and again to destroy the Israel and even had that as their stated policy. After their colossal failure to do so in 1967, they tried once more to invade Israel with national armies only to fail again. So they changed tactics and stopped talking about their ultimate goal. Instead they focused on “the occupation” (West Bank and Gaza). Their real aim-to destroy Israel and turn it into an Islamic state-never changed. This tactic successfully distracted a gullible Europe which supported Arab calls for their temporary goal. Similarly, South Asian Islamists still want more than Kashmir. Kashmir, like the West Bank, is a transitory goal, but a critical one."[8]

Controversy

Benkin owned and administered a nursing home, the Lexington Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, in Illinois, that ran afoul of the law. He eventually lost his license. A 2000 Chicago Tribune investigative series on Benkin revealed pervasive fraud, misrepresentation, abuse of patients’ rights, and maintenance of an environment seriously dangerous to highly vulnerable groups and individuals. [9] One of the investigative series’ co-authors, Michael J. Berens, who received a 2012 Pulitzer prize for a Seattle Times investigative series on elder abuse in Lexington Nursing & Rehabilitation Center . [10]

In June 2000, the Illinois State Department of Professional Regulation alleged that Benkin had lured a homeless 27 year old female drug addict into his “care” so as to have sex with her. Finally, the state closed the nursing home and in 2003 publicly announced the suspension of Benkin’s license.[11][12] Immediately, in 2003, Benkin began his partnership with and advocacy for Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury, which brought Benkin to international attention. Testimony from long-time Bangladeshi freedom fighters that Choudhury was a fraud, an overnight anti-Islamist, was repeatedly ignored by Benkin, who is also believed to have committed numerous deceptions in representing Choudhury, according to an article in the Baltimore Post-Examiner. [13]

Awards and recognitions

Publications

References

  1. ↑ "Folks Magazine's Editorial Board". Retrieved 28 August 2011.
  2. ↑ Bio of Dr. Richard Benkin, Interfaith Strength
  3. ↑ Independent Journalist, Under Attack, Gets Mixed Signals from the U.S. May 17, 2010
  4. ↑
  5. ↑ HOUSE RESOLUTION 64
  6. ↑
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ Interview with Dr. Richard Benkin in "Kashmir Affairs", 24 Dec 2008, Murtaza Shibli
  9. ↑ Shelter Alleges Nursing Home Misled It, March 31, 2012
  10. ↑ How the aged and frail are exploited in Washington's adult family homes, January 30, 2010
  11. ↑ Nursing Home Owner Is In Danger Of Having State Revoke His License June 15, 2000
  12. ↑ Office of Inspector General; Program Exclusions: December 2002 Jan 21,2003
  13. ↑ Bangladeshi fake ‘Muslim Zionist’ promoter Richard Benkin has history of deception October 8, 2012