Christians in Kerala held minority rights protection rally

Paul Ciniraj,

Salem Voice Ministries

Kottayam (Kerala, India), SVM News, August 12, 2007: The Christians of four districts in Kerala today took strong exception to the manner in which the Communist Party of India (Marxist) led Leftean Democratic Front government in the state was trying to ''usurp'' the minority rights.

Tens of thousands of christians of Kottayam, Idukki, Pathanamthitta and Alappuzha Districts participating in the minority rights protection rally and public meeting held at the historic Thirunakkara Maidan in Kottayam on Sunday, the 12th of August. They pledged to keep the rights of the minorities.

Marthoma Metropolitan Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom inagurated the minority rights protection meeting, emphasised the need for protecting the minority rights to save democracy. The Metropolitan appealed to the government to act ''consciously'' and with ''democratic feeling'' particularly at a time when the nation was celebrating its 60th anniversary of Independence to resolve the problem.

Minority rights were not something acquired through struggle but a part of the democratic system. Protection for minorities had been constitutional right. It was the duty of the Christians to protect their rights to set up educational institutions. Being an Indian it was their fundamental right and as a Christian their minority rights, he said in his inagural address.

Delivering the keynote address, Inter Church Council Chairman Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil charged that the state government and the ruling parties were trying to ''impose'' their agenda in the self-financing education sector in the name of consensus. Sincere efforts were not made to resolve the issue.

Running educational institutions was the fundamental right of the minority communities. In a democracy both individual’s and society’s rights should be protected. State Government's move to ''annexe'' minority rights and ''interfere'' in the running of aided schools would not be tolerated, he asserted.

Thomas Mar Athanasius, Chengannur Metropolitan of the Indian Orthodox Church presided over the function. Rights of Minorities not a free gift of government or political parties, but it is constitutional, he said. And it is an important duty of the governments to be vigilant against christian persecution. The life and properties of christians and other minorites are to be protected, he continued.

Kottayam Archbishop Mar Mathew Moolakkattu, Changanacherry Arch Bishop Mar Joseph Perumthottam, Thiruvalla Archbishop Thomas Mar Coorilos, Vijayapuram Bishop Sebastine Thekkathecheril, Palai Bishop Jospeh Kallarangattu, Knanaya Syrian Orthodox Metropolitan Kuriakose Mar Sevarios, Church of South India Bishop Thomas Samuel, Bishop Peter Thuruthikonam and other leaders addressed the meeting.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news217.html

13 year old girl murdered in Egypt during circumcision

Gharbiya (Egypt), SVM News, August 11, 2007: A 13-year-old Egyptian girl named Karima Rahim Masoud has died at a private clinic during an operation to mutilate her genitalia as female circumcision in the Nile Delta village of Gharbiya in Egypt on August 9.

According to media reports on Saturday, she died on Thursday night as the result of problems with the anasthaesia. Her death was discovered after her father sought a death certificate from another doctor.

In fact, girl's father went to obtain a burial license from the coroner's office, but the doctor there demanded to know the cause of death. He argued that his daughter died from natural causes. But the doctor became suspicious and demanded to examine the body when the father broke down and confessed what had happened.

The medical practice where the operation took place has been shut down by the police, and the preliminary investigation shows that the doctor did the operation by himself without the help of anyone else.

The Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service learnt that the general prosecutor is currently investigating the two defendants, the father and the doctor. Female genital mutilation, also known as female circumcision, is a practice that dates back to pharaonic times in Egypt. It is common in a band that stretches from Senegal in West Africa to Somalia on the east coast, and from Egypt in the north to Tanzania in the south.

A government survey in 2000 said the practice was carried out on 97 percent of the country's women aged between 15 and 45 years of age. Religious leaders, usually silent on taboos relating to female sexuality, have also started to speak out against the practice, which many Egyptians believe is a duty under Islam and Christianity.

Female circumcision can cause death through haemorraging and later complications during childbirth. It also carries risks of infection, urinary tract problems and mental trauma.

Human rights groups and religious leaders have spread awareness about the hazards of the operation and asked to stop it. And Egypt's Grand Mufti has issued a fatwa, stating circumcision is not a religious act, but a social one and must be banned. Therefore it was banned in 1997, but doctors were allowed to operate "in exceptional cases."

Mohammed Sayyed Tantawi, the sheikh of Al-Azhar university, the top Sunni Muslim authority, and Coptic Patriarch Chenouda III also declared it had "no foundation in the religious texts" of either Islam or Christianity.

In June, following the death of 12-year-old Bedur Ahmed Shaker, chief mufti Ali Gomaa declared female circumcision forbidden under Islam.

The female circumcision carried out despite stiff penalties for anyone found doing so. Penalties include revoking physician's medical license, closing their clinic and time in prison.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news216.html

A group of Muslim activists attacked Taslima Nasreen

Hyderabad (India), SVM News, August 9, 2007: Noted Bangladeshi novelist Taslima Nasreen was attacked by the activists of Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) at a book release function at the press club at Somajiuda in Hyderabad today evening.

A group of over 40 MIM workers, led by MLAs Afsar Khan, Ahmed Pasha Khadri and Mozum Khan, stormed the Press Club barged into the press club premises and raised slogans against Taslima.

The function was held to release the Telugu translation of Taslima's latest novel "Shodh". When the function was about to end, the MIM activists suddenly barged into the conference hall, attacked the press photographers, damaged the furniture and glass panes and some of them reached the dais and roughed up the novelist.

The MIM, which has considerable influence in the old city area, is represented in the Lok Sabha by Asaduddin Owaisi and has five members in the assembly.

Deputy commissioner of police M Madhusudhan Reddy said that seven persons including three MLAs were arrested for trying to attack Taslima. Later they were released on bail.

"I believe in democracy. I hope to live safely in this country as a democrat. The people who attacked me are in a minority. I get support and sympathy from a majority of people. I thank them," Taslima said.

Nasreen, whose works including the banned novel "Lajja" had raised the hackles of Muslim organisations, was safely escorted to the airport with the help of journalists and the organisers of the function. Several feminist writers and representatives of organisations were present.

Later, a delegation of journalists led by K Srinivasa Reddy, the secretary eneral of the Indian Journalists Union and D Amar, leader of Andhra Pradesh Union of working journalists met Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and sought stringent action against the culprits.

The Union government meanwhile condemned the attack as shameful. The Union Information and Broadcasting Minister, Priyaranjan Das Munsi, said it is highly regrettable if any person is subjected to any attack whether he or she is from India or abroad. "We condemn the attack on Taslima," he said.

Taslima currently lives in Kolkoata in India since fleeing her homeland in 1994 after radical muslims described her writings as blasphemous and demanded her execution. She is facing fatwas which were issued against her for her radical views against Islam.

"Government had already provided security to Nasreen and it will be further reviewed," P.R. Roy, the Home Secretary of West Bengal said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service. "Her visa was to expire this month, had been extended for another six months," he added.

Paul Ciniraj, national president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India condemned the attack towards noted novelist and free thinker Taslima Nasreen.

Just last month, the same MLAs of MIM Afsar Khan and Ahmed Pasha and their supporters pulled out the students and forcely demanded to remove Prasanthi, a woman lecturer of political science from St. Ann's College for Women in Hyderabad, accused insulting Islam by praising Salman Rushdi in one of her classes. Prashanti offered an apology, but the protesters were not satisfied. Finally she was suspended by the management on July 16.

News at SVM site (with pictures): http://salemvoice.org/news215.html

Marthoma Metropolitan Breaking Record of Long Ruled Bishop in India

Paul Ciniraj

Salem Voice Ministries

Tiruvalla (Kerala, India), SVM News, August 7, 2007: Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostem Marthoma Metropolitan, the supreme head of the Marthoma Syrian Church of Malabar breaking record as long ruled bishop in India.

He broke the record of Bishop Jerome Fernandez of Kollam Diocese of the Roman Catholic Church. 19799 days (54 years and two months) bishop Jerome lived as a bishop. Mar Chrysostem has broken his record on August 6, 2007.

Philipose Mar Chrysostem was born on 27 April 1918 by name Philip Oommen.

He was the son of Rev. K.E. Mamman and Mrs. Sosamma Mamman of Adangappurathu Kalamannil family at Puramattom in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala.

He was ordained as a deacon on 1st of January and as a minister on 3rd of June, 1944. And consecrated as a bishop by name Philipose Mar Chrysostem on 23 May, 1953.

He was in charge of different Dioceses in Kerala and also was Missionary Bishop for many years. He was President of the National Christian Council of India and has attended the Assembly of World Council of Churches at Evanston in 1954, and at Upsala in 1968. Mar Chrysostem has been President of the different Organisations of the Church and the Governing Councils of different Colleges. He has attended the second Vatican Council and has thus made very valuable contributions to the ecumenical cause. He has deep concern for the upliftment of the backward communities.

On May 1978 he became as designated Saffragan Metropolitan (Assistant to the Metropolitan, the supreme head of the church). And appointed as the designated officiating Metropolitan on 15 March, 1999.

After the death of Alexander Marthoma Metropolitan, the previous head of the church, Philipose Mar Chrysostem installed as Metropolitan on 23 October, 1999.

Marthoma Syrian Church, traditionally believed to have been founded by St. Thomas, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ in the year AD 52.

It is an espiscopal, protestant and Gospel spreading Church, reformed from the Orthodox Syrian tradition about 170 years ago.

Philipose Mar Chrysostom Marthoma is the 20th successor to the throne of St. Thomas. He recently celebrated his 90th birthday. Still he travels throughout the church as an youngman for all of its important functions.

The church presently has around 1,000,000 members. The majority of the membership of the church is in the southern Indian state of Kerala but it has spread with the 20th Century Indian diaspora to North America, Europe, the Middle East, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Australia and New Zealand, this in addition to a sizeable population in the rest of India.

Marthoma Church is in full communion with the Anglican Church, including the Church of South India and Church of North India.

Asia's largest eight days Gospel Convention called "Maramon Convention" held every year during the month of February under the auspices of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news214.html

Crime Branch Investigates Death of Christian Medical Student

Kottayam (Kerala, India), SVM News, August 7, 2005: Noble John, 21, Christian, was a third year medical student of Kottayam Government Medical College. His dead body was seen at Meenachil river by the side of Kumaranalloor Hindu Temple on 27 June, 2006.

Local police under the Deputy Superintendant of Police registered a case and said he was drowned to death.

But parents and relatives of Noble John did not believe he drowned to death. They suspect it was a planned murder. So they complaint to the Chief Minister, Home Minister and the Opposition leader to have a further investigation about his death.

They stated in the complaint that Noble had several beaten scars in his dead body. Also they said he wouldn't have had gone to the Meenachil river for bathing, for he was totally ignorent of swimming.

"We never believe our son had been gone to swim at the overflowing river. We suspect his co-students," John of Kaithottungal House at Muttuchira near Kaduthuruthy, the father of Noble said to Paul Ciniraj, Director of Salem Voice Ministries and SVM News Service. "His dead body was found nearby a hindu temple, which is very far from our place Muttuchira. That also makes many doubts who is behind it," John continued.

According John's complaint, Kerala government ordered for crime branch investigation about Noble's death. A five member team started investigation under Mr. Rajan, the Circle Inspector of Crime Branch.

Pray for the truth to be found.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news213.html

House of church demolished in India by 200 masked men

Udaipur (Rajasthan in India), SVM News, August 5, 2007: Around 200 masked men demolished a building under construction belonging to the Catholic Church at Chavand in Udaipur district of Rajasthan State in India on August 5 before dawn.

The attackers came by vehicles and totally demolished the building on Saturday after midnight around 2 am.

"We were planning to construct a school and a hospital for the villagers after the completion of the residence," Rev. Father Paul Nimana, who is the priest of the center said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service. "The building was nearing completion and only the roof was to be built," he said.

The property belong to the Catholic Diocese Society.

Rt. Rev. Joseph Pathil, the Catholic Bishop of Udaipur Diocese said that they suspecting the Vishwa Hindu Parishad behind the attack.

"The building was constructing as the residence of a priest. It was completely demolished," bishop Joseph Pathil said. "We have been also receiving telephone calls in the past warning us against going ahead with the construction of the building," bishop added.

"A certain Hindu militant belong to the VHP alongwith up-sarpanch of the village had earlier led the attack on a priest looking after the Chavand centre. The priest vacated the house by the force of those militants," bishop continued.

Several times christians in Udaipur were attacked by the Hindu radicals, accusing charges of conversion.

Some pastors and believers were attacked and handed over to the police during the month of April. More than 30 families had to flee the area when they were attacked and their homes destroyed.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, the national president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack towards Christian Center in Chavand and demolishing the building of the church.

News at SVM site: http://salemvoice.org/news212.html

Foetuses Recovered Again in Orissa near Chief Minister's House

Bhubaneswar (Orissa in India), SVM News, August 1, 2007: Orissa police again recovered at least 14 foetuses from a drain behind the Bhubaneswar Diagnostic and Ultrasound Clinic here on July 31.

The clinic is located in the posh Forest Park locality, about 300 metres away from the residence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.

Police came to know of the foetuses after they were informed about it by members of a local youth club who noticed the jars lying behind the clinic on Tuesday evening.

"It is really shocking that foeticide is taking place in such a scale in the Capital city," a local resident said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

The foetuses, kept in plastic jars, were taken by the health authorities for examination. Chief Medical Officer of the Capital Hospital Loknath Acharya said the sex of the foetuses would be known only after examination.

Two staff members of the diagnostic centre were taken into custody for questioning, Khurda Superintendent of Police Amitav Thakur said. A doctor at the clinic fled when the police reached the spot. The clinic was sealed.

"Doctors running private clinic sometimes keep foetuses for experiment, but the manner of disposal by those running the diagnostic centre certainly raises suspicion," a district official said to the SVM News.

The discovery comes close on the heels of the female foeticide scandal in Nayagarh district where more than 150 fetuses, all believed to be female have been discovered in the last two weeks.

At least eight persons, including two doctors, have been arrested in connection with the Nayagarh case so far. Arrest of several other doctors was likely.

Meanwhile, the police and health authorities continued raids on nursing homes and diagnostic centres in different parts of the State. A number of nursing homes and ultrasound clinics have already been sealed.

Hundreds of women marched in Bhubaneswar to protest the growing number of cases of abortions and infanticides. They carried banners reading "hang the murderers" and "spare the girls" and called on the government to do more to crack down on illegal clinics that do the abortions or provide illegal ultrasounds.

The opposition Congress party has demanded an inquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation and want the chief minister to resign for what they term his failure in checking the crime, as he holds the health department as a cabinet minister.

Earlier in the day, activists of the ABVP, the students wing of BJP, the central opposition party organised a signature campaign against female foeticide and infanticide by putting up a large banner near Rama Devi Women's College of the city. Hundreds of students put their signature on the banner to protest against female foeticide in the State.

"This is a dangerous situation and, if it continues, there will be the extinction of female children," lamented T. Sabitha Swaraj, president of the All India Council of Christian Women, which is part of the National Council of Churches in India said.

"The callousness in allowing female feticide is worsening. Parents have no qualms about aborting female foetuses," Jyotsna Patro, former president of the Church of North India Women's Fellowship said. "No amount of legislation is going to improve the situation unless the deep-rooted prejudice against the girl child is changed. Unless the parents want this to stop, it cannot happen," she continued.

"India is being called as 'Bharat Matha (Mother India)'. There is no word in the universe greater than 'mother', except God. Such a precious personality, mother, is the fullness of a woman. According the Indian ethics, woman is the synonym of all prosperities. Then how can we kill a baby girl? Stop the killing," Paul Ciniraj, the Director of Salem Voice Ministries said in a statement.

"It is a big sin and a curse from God to abort a child, whether it is a female or a male. They have right to live in this world. They are tomorrow's promises from God to the family, the community, the nation and the universe," he added. "According the Christian Scripture, every human being is created in the image of God. It is certainly a persecution, if we kill a baby, an innocent being of God's image," Paul Ciniraj continued.

As far as Christianity in India is concerned, women church leaders have said that some Christians are also guilty of female feticide.

In December, the Indian government acknowledged the gravity of female feticide when Renuka Chowdhury, the minister for women and child development, admitted that more than 10 million girls had been killed over the last 20 years due to female feticide and infanticide. "Who has killed these girl children? Their own parents," Chowdhury told a seminar in Delhi.

Female children are seen in many tribal areas as a hindrance and many girl babies are simply taken to remote areas and left to die. Boys are also traditionally preferred in many areas of the country as the main workers in the family and because parents often have to pay large dowries to marry off daughters.

Last December, a new report by UNICEF indicated 7,000 fewer female babies are born every day because parents can determine the sex of their unborn baby and kill her before birth. In 80 percent of India's districts, a higher percentage of boys are born now than a decade ago.

UNICEF says the resulting gender imbalance from sex selection abortions is particularly prevalent in the wealthier regions of the nation where access to the ultrasound technology easier. UNICEF based the findings on Indian census data and they follow a report in early 2006 from the British medical journal Lancet, which estimated that 10 million baby girls have probably been aborted in the last 20 years.

The results show that a 1994 law prohibiting the use of ultrasounds to determine the sex of a baby for non-medical reasons is not working, even though the Indian government has announced several recent arrests in a renew effort to enforce the law.

Some Indian states such as Punjab and Haryana face male-female ratios as low as 799 girls born for every 1,000 boys.