News from the oppressed

INDIA
Eleven Christian families in Maharashtra state, India have lodged an official complaint of sexual assault carried out by Hindu villagers. On May 15th, the families were summoned to a community court and asked to give up their faith. When they refused, the men were severely beaten and the women were sexually assaulted. When the Christians lodged an official complaint on May 18th, Hindu villagers lodged a counter complaint, accusing them of desecrating Hindu idols. Seven Hindu and 13 Christian villagers were arrested and later released on bail; both groups are now seeking legal advice. Meanwhile, Hindu villagers met on June 12th, with nine neighboring villages and asked them to socially ostracize the Christian families. The families have been banned from using public wells and shopping at local food stores.

On June 4th, a government official in Orissa, India ordered the demolition of a Christian settlement "within 48 hours" to make way for a boating park to attract tourists to the area. However due to a public outcry, an interim order was passed on June 6th, delaying the demolition until the monsoon season had passed. Christians say the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), a radical Hindu group, held a paramilitary training camp in the town from June 2nd to 4th, attended by some of the state ministers; this may be connected with the demolition order. "The administration is trying to harass the minority Christian community," the Rt. Rev. Aman Khosola alleged.

INDONESIA
A Muslim council has accused three Indonesian women of attempting to convert Muslim children under the guise of a Christian education program. Dr. Rebekka Zakaria, Eti Pangesti and Ratna Bangun were arrested on May 13th, and eventually taken to the Indramayu State Prison in West Java, where they await trial. If convicted of breaching the Child Protection Law, they could each face a prison sentence of up to five years and a fine of up to 100,000,000 rupees ($103,600). A lawyer acting for the local Majelis Ulama Indonesia council asked that bail be refused for the women. Meanwhile, lawyers are preparing for a trial that could make headlines in a nation still clearly divided along religious lines.

IRAN
Iran's Islamic Revolution of 1979 has not produced the Islamic paradise it envisioned. Since the revolution, unemployment has soared, inflation is high, and poverty is widespread. The religious repression and economic recession have been paralleled by social deterioration: frustration, despair, homelessness, prostitution, drug addiction, suicide and AIDS are widespread. Iran is ruled by a supreme leader, the Ayatollah Khamenei, and 12 Ayatollahs as a Council of Guardians who may reject any legislation they deem "un-Islamic." On Friday, June 17th, Iranians voted in Iran's 7th Presidential elections, from which all female candidates were excluded. Anger and hopelessness led many reformists and women to boycott the polls, while Islamic and anti-American zeal, plus the mobilizing efforts of the Basij Islamic militia brought the conservatives out in force. The moderate candidate was soundly defeated, and the runner-up is even more committed to fundamental Islam than Hashemi Rafsanjani, the incumbent appointed by Ayatollah Khamenei, who is expected to win in a run-off election.

SRI LANKA
With an anti-conversion law being considered by the country's Parliament, Christians are facing renewed violence and intimidation. According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), the Assemblies of God (AG) Church in Ambalangoda, located in the Galle district, south of Colombo, was attacked with rocks, stones and bottles filled with sand on June 5th. The next morning, a crowd of about 100 people shouting threats surrounded the church. Armed with iron rods, shovels, swords and other weapons, the mob brutally assaulted the pastor and two church members. One person was seriously injured, and all three are now in a hospital being treated for their injuries. There are fears that the mob may return to attack the church again. Elsewhere, on May 29th, a crowd of about 100 people and a local Buddhist monk disrupted a prayer meeting at Kithu Sevana Church, located in the Kurunegala district, northeast of Colombo. Christian villagers were threatened and warned to stop their meetings. Due to concern over another attack, the next prayer meeting, scheduled for June 5th, was canceled.

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