Kochi, Jan 16: Kicking up a debate, an influential Catholic Church in Kerala has said "Love Jihad is a reality" and alleged that scores of women from Christian community from the southern state were being lured into the trap of Islamic State and used in terror activities.
The synod of Syro-Malabar Church, an apex body of Catholic Bishops chaired by Cardinal George Alencherry, also accused the state police of not viewing the matter cautiously and taking timely action in 'Love Jihad' cases.
Denying the charges, the Popular Front of India (PFI) questioned the "timing" of the statement and urged the Church to withdraw it immediately "as it would only help create division amid growing unity among various sections of society against Hindutva Fascism."
The Viswa Hindu Parishad (VHP) welcomed the Church statement and called for a united fight against 'Love Jihad' in Kerala Society.
An official of the Kerala State Women's Commission refused to comment, considering the sensitivity involved in the matter.
There was no immediate reaction from the police and government as well.
"There are circumstances in which Christian girls are killed in the name of Love Jihad in Kerala," the Synod has alleged in a statement issued through Syro-Malabar Media Commission here on Tuesday night, referring to the attacks against Christians across the world.
The Synod has termed as "shocking" the killing of Christians in Nigeria on Christmas day.
It is a matter of concern that Love Jihad is gaining grounds in Kerala putting in danger its social peace and communal harmony, the Synod said.
"It is a reality that 'Love Jihad' is happening in Kerala in a planned manner targeting Christian girls," it said.
The Synod, referring to a police record, said out of 21 people who were recruited into Islamic State terror outfit, half of them were converted from Christian faith and it should be an eye opener for the community.
Noting that unofficial accounts say many girls were being used in terror activities through Love Jihad, the Synod said it was a serious matter and such accounts state that Love Jihad is not only "in the imagination".
The Synod, however, said it was not assessing the 'Love Jihad' as an issue affecting the friendship between religions and urged the government to treat it as one related to law and order and not as a religious matter.
The Church demanded speedy action against the culprits involved in the 'Love Jihad.'
It also called for efforts to sensitise parents and children about the dangers of Love Jihad.
The PFI, often being accused of playing key roles in alleged 'Love Jihad' cases in Kerala, claimed that the state police, after conducting a thorough probe, had earlier submitted a report in the Kerala High Court, stating that there was no cases of 'Love Jihad' in the state.
"The Church is raising such a baseless allegation at a time when the minorities including Muslims and Christians and the people of Hindu community are in a joint fight against the Fascist government at the Centre.
Their untimely statement would only help divert the people's attention from the key issues that society is facing at present", PFI State President Naziruddin Elamaram told PTI.
Urging the Bishops to immediately withdraw the statement, he said, "I don't know what is their interest in making such a statement at this juncture."
Not a single Muslim community is holding 'Love Jihad' to increase the number of Muslims here, Elamaram claimed.
He, however, said there were instance of inter-religious marriages in Kerala in which Muslim girls marrying Hindu and Christian boys and Hindu and Christian girls selecting partners from the religions of their choice.
Such marriages cannot be termed as 'Love Jihad', he said.
Asked about the Bishops' allegations that Christian girls are targeted and recruited to Islamic State terror outift, the PFI leader said not a single Muslim organisation in India have recognised the Islamic State and such recruitments should not be seen as part of a 'jihad' as doubts prevail in minds on who created the IS.
Former president of the VHP, SJR Kumar claimed that 'Love Jihad' exists in Kerala society.
He alleged that there were centres in Kerala to "convert Hindu and Christian girls who are being lured into the trap of love by youths with criminal backgrounds".
"We have brought this issue into the attention of the Kerala society much earlier. But nobody listened to us.
Now, we are happy that the Bishops have realised the threat of Love Jihad. It is the time of a joint fight against this menace," Kumar told PTI.
He also alleged that Muslim men trap Hindu and Christian women into marriage and forcing them to convert to Islam.
"The converted Hindu and Christian girls are being used in drug trafficking and terrorism," Kumar said.
The TMC supremo, who has declared an all out war against the Modi dispensation over demonetisation and arrest of her party MPs in chit fund scam, sought President Pranab Mukherjee's intervention to "save the country from Narendra Modi".
Comments
Mr. Naren, I have nothing more to explain to you. Please don't bring daesh or Isis to Islamic fold, they are dogs of hell and those vultures fed and led by an anti Islamic administration which is a naked truth. When you said Modi, putin n trumph are your godfathers, thats enough for me. Let us wait and watch. Truth has come and falsehood has perished. Indeed falsehood is ever perishing and bound to perish.
Saleem thanks for your hidaya( hrudaya) poorvaka maathugalu ...:) .let me inform you that I am not a practising Hindu either .embraced Buddhism long back .our views are nationalistic in nature .any leader who strongly endorses nationalism above religion ...we will stand behind ...of course I was trained by RSS since childhood and we owe allegiance to it ..just like one particular terror sect owes allegiance to daesh ....we consider jihadists are threat to our national unity as they think religion ummah first and they rush to give chummah for them .medieval history has proved that how non Muslims were treated in bad manners ..what Isis doing today . .it happened in India for almost 800 years. So we don't forget the history ....we truly love this Indian soil and wow allegiance to ultra nationalist ....in this case sangh parivar. .. Religion is last priority . and religion for me is a very personal matter and me strong believer in Buddhist way of life .. Buddhist are basically very much peaceful people avara pitta ne netti ge iro haage maadirbekaadre jihadi galu yaava range nalli third rated irbeku ...u travel in non Islamic world and see the real reaction ...bhaavi inda aache banni ...its the reason nationalist leaders like Narendra modi ,trump and Putin type leaders are getting born ....
Saleem thanks for your hidaya( hrudaya) poorvaka maathugalu ...:) .let me inform you that I am not a practising Hindu either .embraced Buddhism long back .our views are nationalistic in nature .any leader who strongly endorses nationalism above religion ...we will stand behind ...of course I was trained by RSS since childhood and we owe allegiance to it ..just like one particular terror sect owes allegiance to daesh ....we consider jihadists are threat to our national unity as they think religion ummah first and they rush to give chummah for them .medieval history has proved that how non Muslims were treated in bad manners ..what Isis doing today . .it happened in India for almost 800 years. So we don't forget the history ....we truly love this Indian soil and wow allegiance to ultra nationalist ....in this case sangh parivar. .. Religion is last priority . and religion for me is a very personal matter and me strong believer in Buddhist way of life .. Buddhist are basically very much peaceful people avara pitta ne netti ge iro haage maadirbekaadre jihadi galu yaava range nalli third rated irbeku ...u travel in non Islamic world and see the real reaction ...bhaavi inda aache banni ...its the reason nationalist leaders like Narendra modi ,trump and Putin type leaders are getting born ....
Naren, you are such a good man. Whenever you write its always provocative and anti Islamic. But I welcome your approach, I don't know what makes Islam is so hatred to you. Islam is the only religion on the face of the earth that teaches and shows what is true love, peace and mercy. The most worst part is that you are mixing politics with religion. Whenever you speak you bring jihadis n militants r Muslims, I don't cares whom you support in Indian politics, my only request just try to read holy Quran once with understanding. If you're one of those whom Allah almighty chosen for guidance you will. We pray for your hidaya (guidance from Allah).
Manuist Naren Kotian is abusing a true Hindu woman. Those who dont respect women and suspect their own mothers and sisters are shameless creatures.
Haha ...this lady who is a darling of jihadis wants to oust sarva shakthimaan modi ....modi has cult image and he is ruthless when dealing with opponents. Central govt couldn't crush him when he was cm .do you think anybody can cut his wings now ...millennium joke ...here concept is simple ...jihadi mafias are pressurising this bitch and kejri to show some opposition as their network is in bad shape and lobbying has come to ground zero ....mercilessly we must crush this lady ....hara hara modi ...jai jai modi ...para para jihadi
Haha ...this lady who is a darling of jihadis wants to oust sarva shakthimaan modi ....modi has cult image and he is ruthless when dealing with opponents. Central govt couldn't crush him when he was cm .do you think anybody can cut his wings now ...millennium joke ...here concept is simple ...jihadi mafias are pressurising this bitch and kejri to show some opposition as their network is in bad shape and lobbying has come to ground zero ....mercilessly we must crush this lady ....hara hara modi ...jai jai modi ...para para jihadi
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