South Asia

After decades, the Catholic community in Vallakkunnu can now bury its own in a two-storey mausoleum with nearly 400 burial cells. For Bishop Kannookadan of Irinjalakuda, such an innovative and eco-friendly solution avoids communal tensions and conveys a message of faith.

In a pastoral letter, Archbishop John Rodrigues clarifies that the “Ecumenical Catholic Church of Christ” is not in communion with the Pope and has nothing to do with the local Catholic Church. Promoted by a former married priest, it has called for a “mass protest” on 5 June against injustices towards Christians. But dividing the community by confusing people is not the way to combat discrimination.

An unprecedented mobilisation among the Malayali community in support of Abdul Rahim raised the huge sum requested as "diyah" (blood money) from the family of the disabled boy he cared for, who died in an accident. Despite the 15 million riyals paid, the Saudi court still required him to serve his prison sentence to the end. He arrived in India on Eid.

Following decades of rivalry between the political leaderships of the towns of Leh and Kargil, the revocation of Jammu and Kashmir’s special status in 2019 had fostered a historic alliance calling for greater constitutional safeguards and the protection of tribal lands. Now, the establishment of new administrative units in the Himalayan region has reignited accusations against Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government of seeking to divide the population along ethnic and religious lines and to facilitate direct control from Delhi.

In his encyclical, Pope Leo XIV singles out Pakistan's first female prime minister as a public figure who promoted the greatness of humanity. A Muslim, she was assassinated in 2007 in Rawalpindi. Pakistani Catholics expressed gratitude towards her for being a “bridge between our national identity and our faith”, and for the Income Support Programme she created, which is still “supporting millions of women”.

The Swedish government has singled out the Sri Lankan Catholic activist for his work on behalf of the victims of enforced disappearances during the civil war and previous periods of political violence in Sri Lanka. Founder of Families of the Disappeared, he has been seeking truth and justice for more than 30 years despite intimidation and threats.

Members of the small Muslim group are being denied the right to celebrate the Feast of Sacrifice in Pakistan. A multi-actor movement that includes extremist organisations and public bodies is behind it. A Jamaat Ahmadiya representative spoke to AsiaNews about the “discriminatory treatment” they receive, “and violations of our fundamental rights”.

On 24 May, movements affiliated with the RSS organised a demonstration in New Delhi to call for the ‘delisting’ of Article 342 of the Constitution. The aim is to pass a law that would exempt those who have converted to Hinduism. The protest by Christians and pro-rights groups.

Whilst Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif is in China and Islamabad continues to offer itself as a mediator between the United States and Iran, Pakistan is facing growing internal instability. According to analysts, the suicide attack on a train in the capital of Balochistan confirms the strengthening of the armed insurgency and the government’s difficulties in ensuring security. Beijing has also called for the creation of a special force.

The Aruwakkalu area is located 25 km north of Puttalam, in the North-Western Province. It is an area considered a mainstay of Sri Lanka’s cement industry. The new plan allows valuable materials such as ilmenite, rutile and zircon to be separated from the soil layer. Experts say the deposit “is of geological and scientific importance”.

The charge by the Attorney General’s Department follows questioning of a new witness in France. The position of the former head of military intelligence has worsened. Starting in 2017, he allegedly financed Islamic and Tamil extremist groups to be used for suicide attacks and actions against Rajapaksa's adversaries, including the murder of journalist Lasantha Wickrematunge and the disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda.

The girl had just won first place in her class exam and was about to celebrate her achievement, but was instead raped and murdered. Police arrested 34-year-old neighbour Sohel Rana and his wife. The pain of her classmates and the calls for justice (or revenge) reverberate across a shocked nation. For advocate Singha, child abuse “reflects a deep social failure” in society.