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Minorities make up more than half of India’s prisoners

Muslims, Dalits and tribal people are more likely to be imprisoned in India than Hindus, according to a new report. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) report also says that that these groups make up around 52% of inmates across the country. “Minority groups have been subject to suppre-ssion for several years, so it is […]

Hindu-led inquiry blames Indian Christians for lynching of priests

A fact-finding team led by a Hindu nationalist group in the western Indian State of Maharashtra has blamed Christians and left-wingers for violence that led to the killing of two Hindu priests. The report by Vivek Vichar Manch, an NGO affiliated to Hindu nationalist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), said the lynching was “anything but […]

Kerala records lowest male-female literacy gap in India

With 96.2 percent literacy rate, Kerala became India’s most literate state, according to the latest figures released by the National Statistical Office. Delhi came in second with 89 percent literacy rate. Uttarakhand with 87.6 percent and Assam with 85.9 percent are placed in third and fourth positions in the list. Earlier, south Indian states had […]

Priest-lawyers regret Indian court punishing activist

The decision of India’s top court to punish an activist lawyer for his criticism of the court raises concerns about free speech in the country, say activists including some Catholic priest-lawyers. The Supreme Court on Aug. 31 imposed a token fine of one rupee on Prashant Bhushan after he was convicted of contempt of court […]

Telangana people’s assembly presents eight-point demands

Revival of grant-in-aid to Christian minority schools, land for cemeteries and stringent action against those attacking Christians are in an eight-point charter of demands that the Telangana State People’s Assembly on September 7 submitted to opposition parties in the southern Indian state. The assembly that met on September 4-7 in the state capital of Hyderabad […]

Fear keeps Pak judges from acquitting innocent Christians

Judges in smaller courts in Pakistan are too afraid to let Christians go free in blasphemy cases because of the threat from extremists, a human rights activist says. The country prosecutes anyone who is seen to be insulting Islam – with the death sentence often handed out. In light of another Christian falling foul of […]

As Vatican ponders China deal, expert says it’s brought ‘little fruit’

As the Vatican sits poised to renew its historic agreement with China on the appointment of bishops later this month, one of the Catholic Church’s leading experts on Chinese affairs has argued that while the desire for dialogue is understandable, there is still nothing to show for the deal two years later. “I understand the […]

Hong Kong cardinal warns priests to ‘watch your language’ in homilies

The leader of the Diocese of Hong Kong has instructed priests to avoid politics in homilies and admonishing them for “offensive” and “provocative” preaching. The warning comes amid a crackdown on free expression in Hong Kong, after the implementation of the new National Security Law in July. A letter, obtained by CNA, was sent from […]