Thursday, February 02, 2012

Christian Missionaries in Kashmir Expelled After False 'Child Bribery' Accusations


Four Christian pastors have been expelled from Kashmir, Northern India, after they were accused of trying to convert youths into Christianity by bribing them with money.

Religious tensions in the Muslim-dominated province have historically been high, with a court system actively in place barring any attempts by missionaries to turn people towards Christ through financial means. Many stories circle the region of pastors being accused of bribing Indians with money.

The four local pastors in question, CM Khanna, Gayoor Massi, Chandra Kanta and Jim Borst, who were convicted of bribery on Jan. 19 and told to leave the province for "luring" Muslims to Christianity, were apparently exposed by a video filmed last year that shows one of the pastors baptizing Kashmiri boys, OnIslam.com reported.

Syed Ali Shah Geelani, Chairman of the Hurriyat Conference, a political front formed as an alliance of 26 political, social and religious organizations in Kashmir, said that simply expelling these four pastors does not solve the problem, and that it's the duty of every Muslim to protect members of the minority community.

"Muslims should protect their religion themselves; expelling somebody from Kashmir is no solution to the problem," Geelani urged.

"We need to set up educational institutions that will be based on Islam and where students could be given moral education. The schools must also offer modern education because we need doctors and engineers," he added. Keep reading.

Related articles:
Conversion row torments Kashmiri Christians
Evangelical Pastor and Followers Violently Attacked by Hindu Mob

Christian in Pakistan Denied Bail in Blasphemy Case, Judge Fears Religious Extremists

No comments: