06/02/2012, 00.00
INDIA
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West Bengal police and government ignore persecuted Christian family

by Nirmala Carvalho
For months, a couple from the Pentecostal Fellowship House Church receive death threats from Islamic fundamentalists. In late March, the whole community attacked, a widow of 65 beaten. Police will accept complaints for threats, as long as you do not name the attacker.

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - "The police and the government ignore us: they never accepted our complaints" says Aimazan Bibi, a Christian from Nutangram village (district of Murshidabad, West Bengal). For months she, her husband Gaffar Shaike and the Pentecostal communities they belong to have received death threats from a group of Islamic fundamentalists. Sajan K George, President of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), has appealed to the chief minister of the State to "save the lives of these Christians," attacked "so brutally" and "even threatened to death."

It all started last March 30. A group of seven Muslims led by Mohammed Aanu Shaike broke into the House Fellowship Church, where 11 people were involved in a prayer service. First they ordered the pastor, Gaffar Shaike, to stop all activities. In the face of initial rejection of the Christian, the attackers started calling them "infidels" and to beat and insult those present. One of the attacked was a widow of 65 years, Moyazan Bewa. Meanwhile, other Muslims arrived, egging the fundamentalists to attack, just because they were Christians.

The next day, the pastor made a complaint to local police. However they did not registered the case. Shortly after, on 5 April, Mohammed Aanu Shaike threatened to kill Aimazan Bibi after seeing her talking with a Muslim woman.

"On May 29 - said the woman - police said they will accept a new complaint for threats, but we can not mention the events of April 30."

"Since then - Sajan George tells AsiaNews - this family has not had peace and live in fear. We ask that the National Human Rights Commission deals with the case and provide protection for life and religious freedom in this family."

 

 

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