Indian nun takes Hindu extremist to court for insulting pope and nuns
In a video that went viral, a speaker during a VHP rally instigates hatred against Christians with delusional statements about imaginary initiation rites involving nuns. Faced with the failure of the authorities to take action, Sister Manjula Tuscano, a nun and lawyer, has filed a petition with the High Court of Gujarat.
Gandhinagar (AsiaNews) – An Indian nun from Vadodara, Sister Manjula Tuscano, has filed a petition with the High Court of Gujarat against a member of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), a right-wing Hindu organisation, who a few weeks ago openly insulted the nuns of a convent and Pope Francis at a rally held in the city of Kadi.
In a video that went viral, someone is seen urging people to target Christians and ban them from Gujarat. Speaking in the local language, the speaker rants about the pope as the "husband" of thousands of nuns around the world and that the latter have to accept him during their initiation ceremony. Thus, in his view, life in Catholic religious communities is based on adultery.
Sr Manjula Tuscano, a member of the Dominican Missionary Sisters of the Rosary, is a trained lawyer. Through the Kanuni Salah Kendra association, she provides legal advice to those seeking justice.
The petition she filed with the High Court of Gujarat notes that the rant clearly refers to the nuns of the convent in the village of Irana, exposing them to the hatred of those present.
“The said video is in circulation over social media and public domain,” reads the petition. In it, “the individual in his speech could be seen [. . .] making several derogatory and vile comments, specifically targeted towards women, mocking the chastity of nuns/sisters and making insinuations against His Holiness the Pope”.
The complaint highlights the intentionality of the speech, designed to undermine religious harmony in the state, adding that inaction by the authorities will only reflect “the failure of the State in curbing antisocial elements.”
Speaking to AsiaNews, Sister Tuscano said that she has lived in Gujarat for 19 years. “At present, the matter is before the High Court so I will not make any comments” since It “may come up for hearing next week.”
On 17 March, Archbishop Thomas Ignatius Macwan of Gandhinagar wrote to Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, a member of the BJP, asking for "immediate and stringent" measures against the speaker. No response has yet come from the local government.
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07/02/2019 17:28
12/04/2022 18:34
