IRFN (August 27-September 5): India's Supreme Court Intervenes in Orissa Violence

Sep 5, 2008

Feature: This week’s Economist discusses the emerging debate over religious discrimination in state-funded religious schools. 

1.  India: Supreme Court Intervenes in Orissa Violence

ORISSA – On September 3 India’s Supreme Court on ordered Orissa’s government to submit a report on the continued violence in the region after complaints from Christians who claim they have received little protection from the local police force, the International Herald Tribune reported on September 4.  The attacks by Hindus have destroyed close to 1,400 homes, 80 churches and orphanages have been burnt.  The violence is in response to the August 23 murder of Laxmananada Saraswati, a leader of a Hindu radical group, which opposed Hindus from converting to Christianity. It is estimated that 25 Christian have been killed since the violence began.

2.  South Korea: Pacifists Choose Jail Over Military Conscription

SEOUL – Out of 300,000 men in South Korea who are conscripted into the army every year, close to 750 refuse to join on moral grounds, Reuters reported on September 2.  Go Gong-ju chose an 18 month jail term rather than join the army due to his Roman Catholic beliefs.  He says that, “My nerves were shot in prison because I was jailed without committing a crime.”  Criminal records from conscientious objectors make finding employment difficult once they are released from jail.  Conscientious objectors are not offered an alternative to the military conscription such as community service.  Conservative government officials and organizations such as the Koreans’ Veteran Association have stated that such an allowance would only encourage draft dodgers.

3.  Germany: Cologne Council Backs Mosque

COLOGNE – The city council voted on August 28 to allow the construction of what will be one of the largest Mosques in Germany, which will be built by a Turkish-Islamic group, the AP reported on August 29.  The building of the mosque was opposed by many of Cologne’s residents and by the Roman Catholic archbishop for the region.  The mosque will have 177-foot minarets, and construction is scheduled to be complete by 2010.  

4.  South Korea: Buddhist Monk Slashes Self in Protest

SEOUL – Buddhist Monk, the Venerable Sambo, slashed himself in protest in Seoul on August 30 against what he claims to be religious discrimination by South Korea’s Christian president, the AP reported on August 30.  Sambo left a note written in blood that read, "The government of (President) Lee Myung-bak should stop oppressing Buddhism."  Buddhists protested in Seoul on August 27, drawing upwards of 60,000 people, which included 7,000 monks.  The Monks demanded that President Lee apologize for the religious discrimination his government promotes; most of Lee’s Cabinet and top presidential posts are filled by Christians.

5.  Yemen: Three Baha’i Members to be Deported to Iran

SAN’A – Three Baha’i members detained in Yemen face immediate deportation to Iran a Yemeni security official confirmed, the AP reported on August 27.  A Baha’i international group has warned that the three individuals, all of Iranian origin, if deported could be prosecuted and face torture as their faith is illegal in Iran.  The three men had lived in Yemen for over 25 years and were arrested in raids on Baha’i residencies on suspicions of proselytizing.  The UN Baha’i representative, Bani Dugal said that, "Deportation to any country for three individuals with well established businesses and families for their religious beliefs would be grossly unjust, but deportation to Iran, where they face the possibility of torture, would be a clear violation of international human rights law."

New IRFN Blog!