Letter to President of India

Post a Comment » Written on November 4th, 2008     
Filed under: News
NEW DELHI, INDIA  – Following is the letter sent to Smt. Pratibha Patil, President of India, concerning the persecution of Christians in Orissa.

Dear Sir,

We, the International Federation of the Free Evangelical Churches (IFFEC), which has members in 30 countries, including several churches in India, are deeply concerned about the persecution of Christians in the State of Orissa, India.

We appreciate your historic position of support for human rights and the protection of all people groups within India. We appeal to you on the basis of our respect for your country and your leadership as President of India.

The IFFEC has come to know about the atrocities against Christians in Orissa in the month of December 2007 and the present ongoing persecution against them. We are deeply concerned about Christians who are the target of mindless murder, crime, rape, and the burning of properties. It is also sad to note that several churches and prayer houses have been torched by the communal groups.

We express our sorrow for those Christians who lost their lives in the mindless killings. We are anguished over the burning of churches in Kandhmal, Jaipore, Koraput, Balangir, and Phulbani. At the same time we are deeply concerned about the destruction of church properties including several educational institutions, hostel facilities and offices of Christian organizations either destroyed or vandalized in Kandhmal, Phulbani, and even Bhubneshwar. With sadness we note that thousands of Christians lost their houses and properties and were forced to flee to the jungles and other places. They have been living in relief camps since August 23 with little help from any source.

We request your good offices to take note of these persecutions of Christians in Orissa. We earnestly request you to protect the Christian communities and their property even as your government seeks to protect the lives and properties of all the people groups and people of different religions living within India.

We will do whatever we can to assist our fellow sisters and brothers, especially including them and you in our prayers, asking for protection and wisdom to deal with this difficult situation.

Yours Sincerely, on behalf of IFFEC,

William J. Hamel, President
Bertil Svensson, General Secretary

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