Orissa survivors meet, express solidarity with Middle East’s Christians

February 17, 2016

One hundred survivors of the 2008 anti-Christian persecution in the eastern Indian state of Odisha (then known as Orissa) met recently in the Kandhamal district under the auspices of the local diocese.

It was the first such meeting of survivors, according to the Fides news agency.

“The violence in Kandhamal was the worst anti-Christian pogrom in modern Indian history in 300 years,” noted a statement issued by participants. “The violence, which lasted nearly four months, caused the deaths of 101 faithful and displaced 75,000 from their homes and villages.”

“We appeal to the United Nations, the Holy See, inter-religious bodies and civil society groups so that they work for the promotion of peace, harmony and religious tolerance in particular in the Middle East,” they added, as participants expressed their solidarity with the Middle East’s persecuted Christians.

 

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Further information:

• The survivors of the massacres in Orissa express solidarity with Christians in the Middle East (Fides)
• Sharing hope and justice: meeting with the survivors of the anti-Christian massacres in Orissa (Fides)