Orissa: Hindu extremists have Christians arrested on false accusations of proselytism,
Delhi (AsiaNews)
- The arrest of "innocent Christians", in jail under the pretext of
"false accusations" of "forced conversions", says Sajan K
George, president of the activist network Global
Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), condemning the latest case of violence
against the religious minority in Orissa, the Indian state already known for
the anti-Christian pogrom of 2008 which killed over 500 people. The
fact dates back to January 18, when two followers of a Protestant community
were imprisoned on (false) accusations of proselytism and forced conversions,
according to the "draconian" - as defined by activists - Orissa Freedom of Religion Act ( Ofra) enacted
in 1967, but often used to commit abuses and violations.
Local
sources said that the police disrupted a prayer meeting that was taking place
in the village of Gudikhamari, Baripada district in the state of Orissa. The
raid took place at 11:30 am on January 18, in the house of a convert (from Hinduism),
who had always offered his homes to celebrate the functions. At
the time of the police raid, inside there were seven families who were forced
to stop the service.
Members
of a Hindu extremist movement who, previously, had denounced the believers for "proselytizing"
in violation of OFRA accompanied the police in the raid against the small
Christian community. The
charges are unfounded, but were enough to trigger police actions which led to
the arrest and imprisonment of Bahadur Murmu, 23, leader of the small Christian
community, along with 21-year-old Rama Soreng.
The
prayer meeting was held in the home of a former Hindu faithful who, five years
ago embraced Christianity. At
the time of the attack the extremist Hindu group was drunk and threatened to
strike the faithful gathered in prayer. Only the
presence of police prevented further violence. Pro
human rights groups and Christian movements have called for the release on bail
of the two arrested so far in vain because of pressure from local leaders of
the judiciary and police.
Christian
activist Sajan K George tells AsiaNews that there are many cases of faithful
affected by OFRA, jailed on "baseless" charges and allegations made
by Hindu extremists who "perpetrate their reign of terror and oppression undisturbed." A
situation which continues thanks to the lack of "political will" to
resolve the issue, leaving extremists a free hand to implement their project for
the "Hinduization of Orissa".
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19/01/2022 18:09
14/07/2021 16:34
