Information service of the Pontifical Mission Societies since 1927
Srinagar (Agenzia Fides) - The Christians in Kashmir suffer severe persecution on behalf of Islamic extremist groups in the Indian state with a Muslim majority, they also govern politics and the judiciary system, eliminating the rule of law. The 400 Christians in the capital Srinagar "are in a state of panic in the uncertainty of the future", "they do not know if they can celebrate Christmas", while "the police act on behalf of the political leadership" expression of the majority Muslim population. This is what is said according to a detailed Report sent to Agenzia Fides, written by a delegation of Christian leaders and human rights activists, led by the Catholic John Dayal, Secretary General of the ecumenical organization "All India Christian Council". The delegation went to Kashmir for a week after the episode of the Protestant Christian Pastor Chander Mani Khanna, of the "All Saints Church", accused of fraudulent conversions and baptisms. The Pastor was arrested by the police, was released on 1 December, after 10 days in jail, on condition that he does not leave the country. The team wanted to ensure respect for human rights and religious freedom in Kashmir and found a "serious and alarming situation".
"Islamic groups in Kashmir valley do not seem to take into account that in the rest of India, both Christians and Muslims are a small minority and they need each other, to meet the challenge of Hindu fundamentalist groups", notes the Document. "The total absence of human rights organizations; the absence of a Commission for Minorities in Kashmir make it difficult to hear the problems, fears and perceptions of religious minority communities, like the Christians", explains the text.
The Report recalls the fact that "pastor Khanna was summoned by a Sharia court guided by Grand Mufti Azam Kashmir Bashir-ud-din as a "disturbing episode". "The court, recall the Christians, is not recognized by the state and "the Islamic court has no jurisdiction over the Christian minority". This inclination "could have serious repercussions for the state and its religious minorities". This episode raises an urgent problem concerning "the state of justice in the valley, where the Bar - also all Muslims - refused to legally defend the pastor". Khanna told the delegation that a small group of about seven people, previously Muslim, after attending the church for ten months, regularly and with great devotion, insisted on receiving baptism. There is no "anti-conversion law" in the state and one is not legally obliged to inform the government or the police in such cases.
The local government is not "able to monitor the situation and to stop the Islamic extremist groups": this is why the Report launches an appeal to the federal government "so that it protects secularism in the entire country", establishes a Commission for Minorities in Kashmir, ensuring the pluralism, multiculturalism and respect for the rule of law in Kashmir.
The Christian presence in the Kashmir valley has been documented since the mid-nineteenth century, with the advent of the first Catholic and Protestant missionaries. Currently there are about 400 Christians in the whole Kashmir valley. The Christian community opened schools which today are the most important in the state, attended by a large Muslim majority. In the past, Kashmir was the scene of violence, which began in 2003, with accusations against Christian missionaries because they preached proselytize and converted young Muslims. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 12/12/2011)
