AHRC Urgent Appeal Against Attack on Religious Minorities
The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) condemns the increasing violent killings of Christian minorities in India. The Commission calls on the Indian government to immediately stop the killings and respect human rights of the minority communities.
We are requesting the central and state governments to ensure that impartial investigations are carried out into all allegations of violations against the Christian and Muslim minorities and that anyone found responsible be brought to justice.
AHRC is shocked and seriously concerned about the increasing religious violence that led to the recent killings of foreign missionaries.
On 24 January 1999 Australian Protestant missionary Graham Stewart Staines, 58, and his two young sons, Philip, 10, and Timothy, 6, were burnt alive to death inside a van they were sleeping. Since 1965 Staines had helped treat victims in leprosy area. According to reports, the police have arrested 47 suspects who are members of a Hindu nationalist group, Bajrang Dal, in connection with the Staines killings in the eastern Orissa state.
Background Information
The existence of Hindu extremism within ultra-nationalist political parties or parties attracted by ultra-nationalism like the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP, or Indian People's Party), Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP, or World Hindu Council), Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS, or National Volunteers Association) and Shiv Sena is a serious threat to religious tolerance.
India is a nation of diverse religions and languages governed by a secular State. The 1949 Constitution of India declares the nation to be a "sovereign secular State." Article 15 declares that "the State shall not discriminate against any citizens on grounds only of religion...." There is no law banning proselytism by 23 million Indian Christians, but the government has refused to admit new resident missionaries since the mid-1960s.
On 2 September 1997, in Dumka, Bihar, a Jesuit priest, Father Swaminathan Christudas, vice-principal and hostel superintendent of St. Joseph%u2019s School, was beaten with sticks and forced to parade naked.
In March 1998, the pro-Hindu Bharatiya party gained power in Gujarat. That year alone Hindu extremists in the state launched 30 attacks on Christians. According to reports, police did not attempt to protect Christians from extremist attacks.
On 30 October 1998, members of Bajrang Dal attacked a convention of the Alpha Missionary Society. Although police were present, the delegates were beaten with sticks, belts, chains and fists by assailants. Forty people were injured. None of the Hindu extremists were arrested, instead others who came to inquire about the attack were arrested, detained and beaten.
There were also other incidents of attack that missionaries were harassed, churches and copies of the Bible burnt in Gujrat, women religious molested in Uttar Pradesh and four nuns raped in Madhya Pradesh. Two Christians, Rani Maria in Madhya Pradesh and K.T. Thomas in Bihar, were murdered.
RE:INDIA: Shame on India: Children Burnt Alive by Extremists
by on May 07, 2007 05:34 PM Permalink
You said is right the Religious fanatics getting Mad Cow Disease
RE:INDIA: Shame on India: Children Burnt Alive by Extremists
by poruri rao on May 07, 2007 07:36 PM Permalink
i hope you are not brainwashed by the anti-hindu propaganda.chritians are safe in india.only missionaries who bring in foreign money to convert poor hindus only get the stick.real power in india today rests with an italian christian today.as far as muslims are concerned,if you really want to know violence is always started by muslims,whether in mumbai,gujarat etc.even our esteemed P.M says only muslims have right over indian wealth.compare this with muslim countries where even hindus have to wear burqhas.hindus are the sufferers for centuries.thats why so many muslims and even christians are getting so many favours inindia
