‘Love jihad’ making Christian girls in Kerala terrorists : Syro-Malabar Church
For many years, devout Hindu organisations and Hindu leaders have been screaming that ‘Love jihad’ is being carried out against Hindu and non-Muslim girls; however, no one has paid any attention to it till now. Now, after the issue has been raised by a prominent church in the minority Christian community, it is expected that this jihad will be uprooted by taking action against the concerned people !
Kochi (Kerala) – The 28th Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church on 14th January released a statement saying that Keralite Christian girls are being targeted and killed in the name of ‘Love jihad’. Priests said that Christian girls who are being converted to Islam and taken abroad are not living a dignified pious life, but are forced to become terrorists or sex slaves.
A day after the Syro-Malabar church officially acknowledged that ‘Love jihad wasn’t an illusion in Kerala’, it said it would begin a sensitisation campaign against the issue through Sunday Schools. Sources with the Syro-Malabar Church said that they are planning to use all their lay organisations to make Christian youth cautious about the ‘threat’.
“It has also come to our notice that a Christian teenager was brutally stabbed to death after getting lured into an affair. Love affairs used to happen earlier as well, but the Church cannot overlook girls, especially Christian girls, getting targeted and later murdered on the pretext of love. There are reports of Christian girls getting converted and taken abroad. They are made to live with more than one person and some are even pushed into becoming sex slaves”, said Syro-Malabar Media Commission secretary Fr. Antony Thalachelloor.
The Synod, in its statement on 15th January 2020 said that movements like ‘Love jihad’ getting stronger would endanger communal harmony and peace in Kerala. It pointed out that around half of the 21 youth recruited to ISIS from the State were Christians. “It is a serious concern that several girls who are not accounted for in official records are being used for terrorist activities through ‘Love jihad’.
Synod, however, said that they don’t observe ‘Love jihad’ in a way that it would affect the friendship between religions in the State. Instead of looking at it religiously, the authorities should look at it as a menace that would negatively affect society. (In ‘Love jihad’, girls other than those from the Muslim community are targeted; therefore, it would be improper not to look at it religiously. – Editor)
BJP demands probe into the issue
BJP leader Kummanam Rajasekharan said the complaints raised by the Synod should be taken seriously and the allegations should be probed. He said it is a serious allegation and the State Government is turning a blind eye towards the issue. He said such complaints are increasing in the State and the Synod’s demand that strict action should be taken is welcomed.
We were already talking about ‘Love jihad’ : Vishwa Hindu Parishad
Former President of the VHP, SJR Kumar said that ‘Love jihad’ is already being practised in Kerala. Jihadi youth of criminal background are entangling Hindu and Christian girls into love and religiously converting them. They are then using them for drug trafficking and terrorist activities. We were already saying this; however, no one paid any attention to it. Now we are happy that the pastor of the church is talking about the danger of ‘Love jihad’. It is time to unite and act against it.
Silence of the Police, Kerala Government and Women’s Commission
The Kerala Women’s Commission has refused to comment on the matter. Also, there has been no response from the Police and the Government.
Church’s allegation will divide society : PFI
The jihadist organisation Popular Front of India (PFI) rejected the allegations of the church. PFI also demanded that the church withdraw its statement immediately. “The allegations of the church will split society again when other communities are uniting against the fascism of Hindutva”, PFI said. (There is no fascism in Hindutva, but it is there in jihadis. Hence, no one denies that the entire world is living under fear. PFI should be banned now. – Editor)
Origin of the term ‘Love jihad’ : The term ‘Love Jihad’ is a combination of the English word ‘Love’ and the Arabic word ‘Jihad’.
Meaning of ‘Love jihad’ :
1. ‘Love’ here is meant for accomplishing the objective of ‘Jihad’ and hence, is deceptive.
2. ‘Jihad’ is a war declared by Muslims against those who do not believe in Islam, with an objective of establishing Islamic rule. In general it can be summarised that ‘Love jihad’ is a war declared by Muslims against Hindus and Christians through the medium of deceptive love.