India (MNN) — A Christian leader is calling out India’s justice system on the hypocrisy surrounding rulings related to Orissa’s 2008 anti-Christian massacres.
In 2008, anti-Christian violence filled Orissa with the blood of martyrs. (Image courtesy GCIC)
Earlier this month, seven Christians were sentenced to life in prison for the 2008 murder of Swami Laxmanananda Saraswati. The court’s decision came despite a complete absence of evidence connecting the believers to the crime. In addition, Maoists claimed responsibility for Saraswati’s murder five years ago.
Following the believers’ sentencing, the same court found five non-Christians innocent of setting a home aflame in the 2008 violence — due to a lack of evidence.
“Local police are silent spectators and the authorities are completely useless,” Global Council of Indian Christians’ (GCIC) President Sajan George recently told Asia News. He also calls the nation’s justice system “criminal.”
It’s been a half-decade since Hindu extremists went on an anti-Christian killing spree in Orissa following Saraswati’s assassination. Approximately 54,000 people lost their homes, thousands of homes were pillaged, around 100 people lost their lives, and hundreds of churches were destroyed.
“Out of 3,232 complaints, only 828 cases have been converted into First Information Reports (FIR), which starts the actual investigation that leads to a court case,” says George.
According to the World Watch Monitor, churches in India are urging the accused believers to appeal. Pray for justice.
“There was no evidence against my clients and I would advise them to move [to the] Orissa high court,” defense attorney Bijay Mishra told the Times of India.
Pray for the end of legal persecution in India. Ask the Lord to comfort those who lost loved ones in the 2008 violence.
