A human rights group working for Christians who are being persecuted because of their faith condemned the “forced conversion” of a 13-year-old girl who works as a household help in Pakistan.
“Perhaps Pakistan is the only country where such crimes are happening on a daily basis under the cover of Islam,” said Nasir Saeed, director of the Centre for Legal Aid, Assistance and Settlement (CLAAS). He said the forced conversion of the girl is “the most egregious example of modern slavery and religious abuse.”
“There is no room for such callous justification in modern society. Pakistan cannot continue in the dark ages of Islamic practices to enslave Christian and Hindu girls in Pakistan,” said Saeed.
CLAAS reported that a Muslim doctor “forcefully converted” Neha, a 13-year-old Christian girl, to Islam to allow her to work in their family kitchen.
Marian pilgrimage gets green light in Pakistan
After a year on pause, Lahore Archdiocese has announced the annual pilgrimage to the National Marian Shrine in Mariamabad village will go ahead under strict safety guidelines.
The 72nd pilgrimage will be held from Sept. 10-12 under the title “Holy Mary Mother of Mercy.”
“Observe all SOPs [standard operating procedures] about the Covid pandemic and arrive after compulsory vaccination. All pilgrims are re-quested to especially pray for the end of the coronavirus,” states a poster released by the archdiocese’s central pilgrimage committee.
Every year more than 1.2 million pilgrims visit Mariama-bad in Punjab province from all over Pakistan. However, Punjab’s government ordered Lahore Archdiocese to cancel all pilgrimage plans last year.
Myanmar junta under fire for ‘brutal’ clampdown
Myanmar is on a watchlist of countries that have seen a recent and rapid decline in fundamental democratic freedoms.
More than four months since the Feb. 1 military coup, the assault on civic space has persisted with the arrest and detention of activists and protesters, use of excessive force and firearms against protesters and disruption to the internet.
The watchlist was released on June 23 by the CIVICUS Monitor, an online platform that tracks the latest developments to civic freedoms across 196 countries.
Since February, thousands have been arbitrarily arrested, detained and attacked including human rights defenders, trade unionists, journalists, political and student activists, poets, writers and monks. Many are facing baseless charges including treason, which is punishable by up to 20 years in prison, or incitement.
Patna Jesuits distribute Covid relief kits poor
A voluntary organization of the Patna Jesuits on June 26 distributed Covid-19 relief kits to some 650 poor families in the capital city of Bihar. Jesuit Father Juno Sebastian, director of Manthan (Churning), said that this time they focused mostly the hamlets of Musahar, the Dalit community at the bottom of the former untouchables. Around 4,300 people in Danapur, Phulwarisharif and Bihta areas of Patna district received the kits containing rice, dal, wheat flour, edible oil, mask, soap and detergent powder. “This time Manthan made a special effort to reach out to the sick and those with no support,” Father Sebastian said. They also helped families of Manjhi, another low caste group. The Jesuit priest thanked Azim Premji Foundation for funding the project.
Bangladesh’s Armenian church has lone Hindu worshiper
With no priest to minister and no faithful to pray, Dhaka’s Armenian church has one last parishioner: a Hindu caretaker. Shankar Ghosh makes the sign of the cross before opening the entrance of the striking white and yellow edifice, built 240 years ago in the capital Dhaka.
Back then, the city was home to hundreds of Armenians, a diaspora that traced its roots in the Muslim-majority nation back to the 16th century and eventually rose to become prominent traders, lawyers and public officials.
Capuchins help religious congregations reinvent in post-Covid era
A Capuchin holistic welfare centre in Tamil Nadu, southern India, plans to organize another round of online program to help reinvent religious leadership in the post-Covid era.
The June 28-30 webinar aims to help leaders of religious congregations and their collaborators, says “Thalir” (bud) director Capuchin Father Nithya Sagayam, who was earlier the executive secretary of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India Commission for Justice, Peace and Development.
Priest’s “last will” inspires bishop, colleagues
A Catholic priest in Kerala, southern India, has inspired his bishop and other clerics through his “funeral will.” Father James Kumbukal has left a lasting mark through his funeral will, said Bishop Jose Porunnedom of Mananthavady mourning the death of his 78-year-old priest. “I wish to get a very simple burial,” read the will in Malayalam, the language of Kerala.
Covid aid restores society’s faith in Church
The Church’s vital role in providing emergency help for those hit by Covid-19 is rebuilding community relations in India where Christians have been demonised by far-right politicians. Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal told Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) that, despite polarising rhetoric by politicians trying to divide citizens along religious lines, the pandemic has prompted people from all parts of society working together.
Dalit Christian dies in police custody in India
A Dalit Christian woman in the southern Indian state of Telangana has died in custody after allegedly being tortured by police.
Maid Ambadipudi Mariyamma of Yadadri-Bhongir district was booked along with her minor son Udaykiran on June 17 by Addagudur police after a complaint of theft by her employers, according to media reports.
Her relatives and daughter Swapna alleged that she was tortured by police while in detention.
Mariyamma, 44, was found collapsed early on June 18 at the police station and was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared her dead.
“When people in America protested after a black man was killed and started a campaign — Black Lives Matter — some people here voiced Dalit Lives Matter. The time has come to intensify it,” Father Z. Devasagaya Raj, former secretary of the Indian bishops’ office of Dalits and backward classes, told.
“Dalits and minorities community are always at the receiving end at the hands of people of so-called high society, elite groups, administration and government, hence police brutality upon them is nothing new. Anyone who speaks up for Dalits and the downtrodden is subject to attacks or branded anti-national.”
Pastor Sudarsan Masih of the Apostolic Christian Assembly Church in Khammam told UCA News that members were shocked to learn about the incident.
“Our prayers are with the family of the woman and we pray that there will be a fair and unbiased investigation and the culprit will be booked,” he said.
“The government should do justice to poor and underprivileged people, otherwise it will give them the wrong message and cause insecurity among them.”
AP state produces first Bollywood singing sensation
Anong Singpho had never imagined that his singing videos on social media would one day make him the first Bollywood star from Arunachal Pradesh.
The 27-year-old, who performs regularly at functions at Miao’s Government Higher Secondary School, used social media platforms to showcase his singing talents.
One such video caught the attention of Zee Music Company, a popular Indian music company and a subsidiary of Zee Entertainment Enterprises Limited, and it offered him to sing for their label.
“It is dream-come-true moment for me,” said Singhpo, a resident of Miao Singpho village in Changlang district. “Growing up, I always used to have dreams about singing for a Bollywood music company. I never imagined that would actually happen to me through this famous music label.”
Singhpo’s music single, Laut Aao Maa, was released by Zee Music Company as a tribute all mothers on Mother’s Day this year and within a span of one month the video has been viewed by 1.4 million viewers on video sharing platform YouTube alone.
Picturized with the junior reality show cont-estant, Oupseng Namchoom, the single highlights the emotions a child goes through in the absence of his mother in this soothing number.
The single is a song recording of fewer tracks than an LP record or an album. The song has been well received by people across the country. More than 1.4 million people have made positive comments on the video, singling out Singhpo’s voice for special appreciation.
The only son of Innao Ladoi Singpho and Jamai Thu Singpho, the singing sensation says the response from people across the country has been overwhelming. “I never thought I would receive such an overwhelming appreciation. I feel I am lucky to receive so much love,” said the graduate from Delhi University.