Persecution
International Christian Concern
Ten years have passed since the Christian community of the Kandhamal district, located in India’s Odisha state, were the victims of the country’s worst instance of Christian persecution. Despite the passage of time, many victims of the violence remain deprived of justice and compensation.
In August 2008, anti-Christian mob violence swept across Kandhamal after Christians were wrongly blamed for the assassination of a local Hindu leader. The riots persisted for nearly three months, leaving over 100 Christians dead, nearly 5,000 Christian homes damaged, 232 churches destroyed, and over 54,000 people displaced.
The 2008 riots are still considered India’s worst instance of Christian persecution in its modern history.
“Real justice for the victims of Kandhamal requires more human and financial resources,” Fr. Dibakar Parichha, Secretary of the Justice and Peace Commission of the Archdiocese of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, said at a consultation in Delhi.
“There are more than 320 cases. People must not be deprived of justice.”According to data, at least 6,495 individuals were arrested in connection with the violence. However, only 78 individuals have been convicted in the ten years following the violence. Another 150 trials are still pending before the courts. Christian leaders claim these numbers show a bias against the Christians victims of Kandhamal and are demanding true justice be done.
No comments:
Post a Comment