“Nuns targeted in India, arrest in Chhattisgarh is not an isolated incident”
The Indian Bishops' Conference denounces the arrest of two nuns in Agra on blatantly false charges of “forced conversions”. ‘Christian nuns are increasingly being followed by social agitators, who surround them at railway stations, incite the crowd and use offensive language.’ Appeal to local and central governments in Delhi to guarantee their safety. Rahul Gandhi: ‘This is BJP street justice. The two nuns must be released immediately.’
Delhi (AsiaNews) - The case of the two nuns from Agra arrested on Friday in the state of Chhattisgarh at the railway station in Durg on charges of ‘forced conversions’ while - with the written consent of their parents - they were accompanying some adult girls who were already Christian to their new workplace, is not an isolated case.
This is stated in a note from the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), which condemns ‘in the strongest terms the recent arrest and alleged physical assault,’ calling it ‘part of a worrying wave of harassment, false accusations and fabricated cases targeting nuns across the country.’
The bishops express concern that ‘Christian religious women are increasingly being followed by social disrupters who surround them at railway stations, incite crowds and use offensive language. These actions,’ they write, ‘pose a serious threat not only to the dignity and modesty of these women, but also to their lives.’
The Bishops' Conference - defining these repeated incidents of harassment as a ‘serious violation of the Constitution’ - calls on local governments in Indian states to ‘ensure the safety of all women and take timely measures to prevent such incidents.’ It also appeals to the central government in Delhi, calling for urgent action.
‘Reaffirming its commitment to justice and the protection of minority rights,’ the statement concludes, ‘the Indian Bishops' Conference urges the authorities to take concrete measures to guarantee the rights and dignity of religious women and ensure their safety. It is committed to continuing to monitor the situation closely and to take all necessary action to safeguard minority communities in India.’
Meanwhile, the case of the two nuns is also causing debate in Indian politics. Today, Rahul Gandhi, leader of the Congress Party, also spoke out in their defence: ‘This is not justice, it is the rule of the BJP-RSS mob (the party and movements of the Hindu nationalist right, ed.),’ he wrote in a post on social media. ‘It reflects a dangerous pattern: the systematic persecution of minorities under this regime.’
Gandhi also recalled that members of his party protested in front of the Delhi Parliament over what happened in Chhattisgarh. ‘We will not remain silent. Religious freedom is a constitutional right,’ he said, calling for the immediate release of the arrested nuns and accountability for the injustice committed.
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23/10/2021 12:52
