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Seeking justice for victims of violence in India
Religious conversion is a highly contentious issue for the Hindu nationalist ideology. According to this ideology, known widely as ‘Hindutva’, India is a land for Hindus, and therefore Christians and Muslims are a threat to national identity. A recurrent feature of the anti-Christian violence in Orissa last year was the attempt to force Christians to renounce their faith and become Hindus in what are called ‘re-conversion’ or ‘homecoming’ ceremonies. The Christians in Pirigada village were attacked on 25 August 2008. As their houses were destroyed, they fled to the hills. They stayed there for four days, unable to eat because they feared lighting a fire would give away their whereabouts. On 29 August, a delegation from the village went to the hills to look for them, calling out to them and inviting them to come back for a peace meeting. The Christians took this invitation at face value and decided to return to the village; however, when they got there, they found a mob of at least 400 people demanding that they must convert to Hinduism or be killed. The Christians were forced to undergo a conversion ceremony. As part of the ceremony, the heads of the men were shaved, and they were all forced to drink cow’s urine. They were then given lockets of the deity Hanuman and taken to a temple where they were made to prostrate themselves before the god. One of the Christians said, “We were thinking our religion was gone, we had no future. We became almost like madmen.” Only after having agreed to burn all their Christian symbols the next day were they allowed to return to the village. However, they didn’t fulfil this promise but instead fled under the cover of darkness to a relief camp. They have now returned to a makeshift camp on the outskirts of Pirigada, but the Hindu villagers, influenced by extremist Hindu nationalists, have ostracised them and face a significant fine if they communicate with the Christians. The pressure to convert is still being applied very strongly in Kandhamal district in Orissa. In many places, Christians are told that they must become Hindus and withdraw their complaints against those who attacked them or they will not be allowed to return to their villages. Your prayers will help CSW’s work for justice for those affected by anti-Christian violence in India. For more ways to take action, look out for our forthcoming campaign Inclusive India, calling for full social inclusion for India’s minorities. BackgroundIn August 2008, the Christian community in Orissa State experienced horrific violence. Eight months later, the scale of devastation is still staggering, and the victims continue to suffer enormously. CSW visited India to report firsthand on the situation and to offer support and encouragement to the people we met. Photos: Copyright Benny Manser/CSW In August 2008, violence broke out again in Orissa – this time worse than the attacks of December 2007. The local figurehead of the VHP (Vishwa Hindu Parishad) was murdered by Maoist insurgents, but extremist Hindu nationalists blamed Christians and launched a devastating series of attacks on Christian targets across the state. A nun was gang-raped, several people were brutally killed, including a Hindu employee burnt to death in a Catholic orphanage, and thousands of buildings were destroyed and people displaced. The death toll currently stands at 70. At least 50,000 people were forced to flee their homes. Some Christians were forcibly converted to Hinduism or were arrested instead of their attackers, and houses and churches were burnt down. |
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