Sanal Edamaruku the 57 year old Indian founder-president of Rationalist International who potentially faces three years imprisonment on the charge of hurting religious sentiments for his role in examining a claimed miracle at a local Catholic Church [a crucifix that was dripping at Our Lady of Velankanni church in Mumbai, Edamaruku identified the source of the drip as resulting from a clogged drain], has been interviewed by Ryan Shaffer for The Humanist. During the interview Edamaruku states “Indian blasphemy laws are relics of colonial legislation and have a long history of abuse. In the decades since independence, they’ve been regularly used to hound and silence intellectuals and artists who question religious beliefs. What’s dangerous is that anybody can easily launch a complaint against whomever he wants for violating his religious feelings. And on the basis of such a complaint, the police can arrest and hold the suspect until he’s acquitted by a court of law, which can take years. So the real danger isn’t so much the verdict as the pre-trial “punishment.” …The government has the duty to protect religious and nonreligious citizens, but not religion. Religion is a private matter. History shows that most people in India are ready to tolerate others’ religions, to live and work peacefully together. But religious conflicts have always been created to play politics, and there’s no strong political will to end this old game as politicians of all parties prefer to reap its fruits. In short, the blasphemy law encourages abuse. It even offers a legal cover for crimes against the Constitution of India, Section 51A of which states “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India …(h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.” Our aim at the Indian Rationalist Association is to encourage and support people to fulfill this very duty, and it’s exactly what I did in Mumbai.”  Inspired by Ryan Shaffer, The Humanist ow.ly/k4fJo Image source Twitter ow.ly/k4fpP The blasphemy law encourages abuse (May 3 2013)

Sanal Edamaruku the 57 year old Indian founder-president of Rationalist International who potentially faces three years imprisonment on the charge of hurting religious sentiments for his role in examining a claimed miracle at a local Catholic Church [a crucifix that was dripping at Our Lady of Velankanni church in Mumbai, Edamaruku identified the source of the drip as resulting from a clogged drain], has been interviewed by Ryan Shaffer for The Humanist. During the interview Edamaruku states “Indian blasphemy laws are relics of colonial legislation and have a long history of abuse. In the decades since independence, they’ve been regularly used to hound and silence intellectuals and artists who question religious beliefs. What’s dangerous is that anybody can easily launch a complaint against whomever he wants for violating his religious feelings. And on the basis of such a complaint, the police can arrest and hold the suspect until he’s acquitted by a court of law, which can take years. So the real danger isn’t so much the verdict as the pre-trial “punishment.” …The government has the duty to protect religious and nonreligious citizens, but not religion. Religion is a private matter. History shows that most people in India are ready to tolerate others’ religions, to live and work peacefully together. But religious conflicts have always been created to play politics, and there’s no strong political will to end this old game as politicians of all parties prefer to reap its fruits. In short, the blasphemy law encourages abuse. It even offers a legal cover for crimes against the Constitution of India, Section 51A of which states “It shall be the duty of every citizen of India …(h) to develop the scientific temper, humanism and the spirit of inquiry and reform.” Our aim at the Indian Rationalist Association is to encourage and support people to fulfill this very duty, and it’s exactly what I did in Mumbai.”

 

Inspired by Ryan Shaffer, The Humanist ow.ly/k4fJo Image source Twitter ow.ly/k4fpP