South Asia

The attack took place yesterday evening at a prayer service in Davanagere. The victim was hit with a cleaver and was saved by a miracle. Hindu radicals 'anti-conversion' law behind the attack. "It 's an excuse for anti-Christian violence," says the chairman of the Global Council of Indian Christians, recalling the Pope's message on religious freedom.

The Minister for Religious Affairs attempt to appease the Islamic parties and announces that the government does not want to amend the controversial law. Clashes between Muslim protesters and police near the house of the Pakistani President, Asif Ali Zardari. Lahore High Court still to fix the date of the appeal for the Christian woman sentenced to death.

Absurd accusations against the Coptic community of keeping two women who converted to Islam captive. The psychosis of a country that prohibits changing of religion. Islamic attacks against Shenouda, the criticism of the imam of Al-Azhar against Benedict XVI. Europe must open up channels for cultural dialogue with Islamic countries, rejecting secularism and fundamentalism. Just like the pope said.

Benedict expresses his sorrow for the killing of the Coptic faithful in Alexandria and bombs against the homes of Christians in Baghdad. A "strategy of violence that has targeted Christians." The Pope appeals to Christians for a non-violent response. A message for the Spanish Church gathered in Madrid for "The Christian family, hope for Europe."

Five Muslim militants in prison in Denmark and Sweden. They planned to "kill as many people as possible" in the offices of Jyllands-Posten, the newspaper that published the cartoons in 2005. The security services are investigating possible links with international terrorist networks. The publication sparked protests, riots and bombings in Asia and the Islamic world.

The archbishop of Mumbai offers his reflection on the Pope’s Message for World Peace Day. He calls on Indian spiritual leaders to promote tolerance and peace towards other believers. It is extremely painful to see religious freedom denied, in particular in our continent, cradle of the world’s great religions.

A survey by the Palestinian Center for Public Opinion shows that most respondents are in favour of a Palestinian currency and a civil airport in the West Bank. Some 44.1 per cent receives help from family abroad, whilst 66.7 per cent has a Facebook account.

A Hindu Dalit, Subarna Digala had recently converted and was taking catechism courses. Fanatics from the Hindu nationalist Sangh Parivar forced his relatives to abandon their village and barred them from drawing water from collective wells. For the extremists, the entire family is contaminated even if they are Hindu.

In Kandhamal district, where Hindu radicals are strong and aggressive, a government official is opposed to allowing five Christian families, victims of pogroms, rebuild their destroyed homes. A missionary: "We will take their case to court if the opposition continues." Nine Hindu guilty of burning Christian homes sentenced to five years in prison.

Human rights activist Lenin Raghuvanshi talks to AsiaNews about Benedict XVI’s message for World Peace Day in which the Pontiff said that “religious freedom is the path towards peace”. He illustrates the issue by discussing the case of India, caught up in the turmoil of Hindu fundamentalist nationalism.

The initiative lets Catholics and Protestants celebrate Christmas without fear from Hindu extremists. “Christian activities that do not harm the country are welcome in Nepal,” Foreign minister says.

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