Updates on Christian Persecution in India and Pakistan:

ASIA/INDIA - More than 5,000 Christians take to the streets in Orissa to demand justice

Bhubaneswar (Agenzia Fides) - About 5,000 Christians took to the streets in Orissa staging a peaceful demonstration to demand justice, on the anniversary of the massacres that hit the Christian community in Kandhamal district in 2008. As local sources of Fides inform, the event was marked by slogans and banners demanding "justice, peace and harmony," while many of the participants had covered their mouths with black tape, signifying silence and marginalization in which they have been relegated. The march was authorized only the day before by the authorities, who feared the reaction of Hindu extremist groups.
His Exc. Mgr. Sarat Nayak, Bishop of Berhampur participated in the demonstration and publicly stated: "Peace can only come when truth and justice are re-established." Fr. Ajay Singh, an activist for human rights in Orissa, explained: "This demonstration intends to pay tribute to the dead, seek justice, security and livelihoods for the victims. This is necessary in order to capture the government's attention and encourage them to build solidarity among them."
In a statement sent to Fides Agency, the NGO "Christian Solidarity Worldwide", which monitors the condition of Christians, said: "It is important to remember that in 2008 the massacres in Orissa occurred eight months after the first wave of violence that had remained unpunished. The only way to stop the extremists is to ensure legality and justice ".
In a message sent to Fides, Mgr. John Barwa, SVD, Archbishop of Cuttack-Bhubaneswar, in Orissa, defines the 2008 attacks in Kandhamal "crimes against humanity", as "widespread and carried out with careful planning". In Orissa 100 Christians were killed and there were 56 thousand refugees. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 01/09/2012)

ASIA/PAKISTAN - "Release Rimsha": U.S. Senators' Letter to President Zardari

Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - A bipartisan group of six U.S. senators wrote a letter to President Asif Ali Zardari, demanding the release of the Christian Rimsha Masih, the minor arrested on charges of blasphemy, and more effort to combat religious intolerance in Pakistan. In the text of the letter, of which a copy was sent to Fides, the senators note the need to "ensure a safe and fair treatment, according to the law, to all Pakistani citizens, regardless of their religion," recalling that the recent cases of religious discrimination, including that of Rimsha Masih, denote "a worsening of the situation of religious minorities in the country. The text points out that, as in the case of Rimsha, the blasphemy law "continues to harass innocent people." "We urge your government - it says - to do more to prevent abuses and violence committed against Christians, Ahmadis, Hindus and other religious minorities, as well as to members of the Muslim community."
The U.S. politicians hope, therefore, that Zardari may undertake a "serious effort to end Rimsha's unjust detention. The letter was signed by Senators Robert Menendez, Roy Blunt, Ben Cardin, Mark Kirk, Bob Casey, and Mike Johanns. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 01/09/2012

ASIA/PAKISTAN - "Rimsha is innocent and will soon be free": also Muslim lawyers in her defense

Islamabad (Agenzia Fides) - "Rimsha is innocent, there is no evidence against her. She will soon be free." Paul Bhatti, Advisor to the Prime Minister for National Harmony and president of the "All Pakistan Minorities Alliance" is confident (APMA), on the case of the Christian girl accused of blasphemy. The proceedings before a court of first instance in Islamabad was once again postponed to Monday, September 3, also because the judge has changed, while the remand in custody for the young girl had been extended to 14 days. But the progress of the proceeding - despite the inflammatory speeches of the counter-party lawyer - seems to be decreasing: in fact, as reported to Fides by Bhatti, the tests carried out by the Medical Commission, who had defined Rimsha "a minor and mentally disabled," was confirmed by the experts. And to follow the case of Rimsha, the APMA has appointed a team of five Muslim lawyers, who are all highly professional and work together with lawyer Tahir Naveed Chaudhry. Given the blatant injustice, given the legal process, given the public support, on behalf of institutions and also of Muslim leaders, the defense team express "confidence in a positive outcome."
Meanwhile, the girl who remains in prison, is under the care of a female prison guard, who looks after her with loving care, but cannot help but notice the suffering she is going through: the child is traumatized, she often cries and looks for her parents. (PA) (Agenzia Fides 01/09/2012)

ASIA/PAKISTAN - Land mafia behind Rimsha's case

Lahore (Agenzia Fides) - "The charges against Masih Rimsha are completely false and made up: behind her case there is land mafia. Unscrupulous criminals intend to wrest land from Christians and drive them out from Mehrabadi, a suburb of Islamabad where Rimsha's family lives. This is why they made up the case, blaming an innocent child." This is what Fr. Francis Nadeem OFM Cap, Capuchin friar in Lahore, Coordinator of the "National Council for Interreligious Dialogue" reveals to Fides. The Franciscan friar, thanks to his work in the field of dialogue, has good friends in the Muslim world that have given him access to such delicate information. Rimsha's case, therefore, would be exemplary of how the law of blasphemy is manipulated and is used to hit the innocent.
According to the friar, "the police should not have registered a complaint against Rimsha, as she is a minor, and also because Islam provides different procedures in the case of children, as Muslim leaders explain" (see Fides 30/08/2012). Fr. Nadeem, together with the Dominican Fr. James Channan, OP, director of "Peace Center" in Lahore, will lead tomorrow, September 2, in the Church of St. Joseph in Lahore, a prayer meeting where the participation of over a thousand faithful is expected, including "many children who pray for Rimsha ". The meeting will pray and ask for her immediate release, as the child is completely innocent. "If we want peace in Pakistan - he concludes - such abuses must be stopped." (PA) (Agenzia Fides 01/09/2012)