AHRC Urgent Appeal Against Attack on Religious Minorities

The Asian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) condemns the increasing violent killings of Christian minorities in India. The Commission calls on the Indian government to immediately stop the killings and respect human rights of the minority communities.

We are requesting the central and state governments to ensure that impartial investigations are carried out into all allegations of violations against the Christian and Muslim minorities and that anyone found responsible be brought to justice.

AHRC is shocked and seriously concerned about the increasing religious violence that led to the recent killings of foreign missionaries.

On 24 January 1999 Australian Protestant missionary Graham Stewart Staines, 58, and his two young sons, Philip, 10, and Timothy, 6, were burnt alive to death inside a van they were sleeping. Since 1965 Staines had helped treat victims in leprosy area. According to reports, the police have arrested 47 suspects who are members of a Hindu nationalist group, Bajrang Dal, in connection with the Staines killings in the eastern Orissa state.

Background Information

The existence of Hindu extremism within ultra-nationalist political parties or parties attracted by ultra-nationalism like the Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP, or Indian People's Party), Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP, or World Hindu Council), Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS, or National Volunteers Association) and Shiv Sena is a serious threat to religious tolerance.

India is a nation of diverse religions and languages governed by a secular State. The 1949 Constitution of India declares the nation to be a "sovereign secular State." Article 15 declares that "the State shall not discriminate against any citizens on grounds only of religion...." There is no law banning proselytism by 23 million Indian Christians, but the government has refused to admit new resident missionaries since the mid-1960s.

On 2 September 1997, in Dumka, Bihar, a Jesuit priest, Father Swaminathan Christudas, vice-principal and hostel superintendent of St. Joseph’s School, was beaten with sticks and forced to parade naked.

In March 1998, the pro-Hindu Bharatiya party gained power in Gujarat. That year alone Hindu extremists in the state launched 30 attacks on Christians. According to reports, police did not attempt to protect Christians from extremist attacks.

On 30 October 1998, members of Bajrang Dal attacked a convention of the Alpha Missionary Society. Although police were present, the delegates were beaten with sticks, belts, chains and fists by assailants. Forty people were injured. None of the Hindu extremists were arrested, instead others who came to inquire about the attack were arrested, detained and beaten.

There were also other incidents of attack that missionaries were harassed, churches and copies of the Bible burnt in Gujrat, women religious molested in Uttar Pradesh and four nuns raped in Madhya Pradesh. Two Christians, Rani Maria in Madhya Pradesh and K.T. Thomas in Bihar, were murdered.

Recommended Action

We encourage you to write letters to the Indian government to request the following actions to be taken:

• To form an independent commission to investigate the attacks on religious minorities and to punish those responsible for the acts of violence and murder;

• To take measures to protect all religious minorities in the various states affected;

• To provide appropriate assistance to the victims, including their rights to redress and compensation; and

• To promote respect for human rights and religious tolerance.

Send appeal letters to:

President K.R. Narayan
Office of the President
Rashtrapati Bhavan
New Delhi 110 001
India
Fax: (91-11) 301 7290

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee
South Block Gate No.6
New Delhi 110 001
India
Fax: (91-11) 301 9817

Justice M.N. Venkatachaliah
Chairperson
National Human Rights Commission
Sardar Patel Bhavan
Sansad Marg
New Delhi 110 001
India
Tel: (91-11) 334 0016

Also send copies to:

Mr. Kofi Annan
Secretary-General of United Nations
D-519 Palais des Nations
Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax: (41-22) 917 0022 (Hotline - Human Rights)

Mary Robinson
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
8-14 avenue de la Paix
CH 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Tel: (41-22) 917 3456
Fax: (41-22) 917 0213
E-mail: webadmin.hchr@unog.ch

Mr. Abdelfattah Amor
Special Rapporteur
Elimination of all Forms of Intolerance and of Discrimination Based on Religion or Belief
c/o Centre for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
8-14, avenue de la Paix
1211 Geneva 10 , Switzerland
Fax: (41-22) 917 0123,
E-mail: webadmin.hchr@unog.ch

and diplomatic representatives of India accredited to your country.