A Catholic college in southern Indian Kerala state has denied space for its women Muslim students to offer Friday prayers on the college premises, kicking off a controversy with Church officials terming the demand as part of a sectarian move to target the college.
Nirmala College, managed by the Kothamangalam diocese, began witnessing protests on July 26, when staff prevented a few Muslim girl students from offering their prayers (namaz) inside a room in the college.
Muslim girls wanted the space inside the campus to offer their mandatory Friday prayers as the local mosque does not have a facility for them.
Vice-principal A. J. Emmanuel told UCA News that the 72-year-old college “has no provision for allowing space for offering namaz.” The college has no plan to change its policy, he said.
Church officials said the sudden demand and the controversy are part of an organized attempt to tarnish Christian institutions across the state, where Muslims now count 26 percent of the state’s 33 million people.
“There has been a concerted and planned move in recent times against Christian minority institutions,” said Bishop Thomas Tharayil, convener of the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) of the Syro-Malabar Church.
Christians form only 18 percent of Kerala’s population. Both Christians and Muslims are religious minorities, as Hindus form 54 percent of the state’s population.
The Eastern rite Syro-Malabar Church, under which the diocese functions, has urged the state government to protect the college and managers, fearing the students’ protest could turn violent.
The demand has “no legal or moral standing,” Bishop Tharayil said in a statement on July 28….
Nirmala College, managed by the Kothamangalam diocese, began witnessing protests on July 26, when staff prevented a few Muslim girl students from offering their prayers (namaz) inside a room in the college.
Muslim girls wanted the space inside the campus to offer their mandatory Friday prayers as the local mosque does not have a facility for them.
Vice-principal A. J. Emmanuel told UCA News that the 72-year-old college “has no provision for allowing space for offering namaz.” The college has no plan to change its policy, he said.
Church officials said the sudden demand and the controversy are part of an organized attempt to tarnish Christian institutions across the state, where Muslims now count 26 percent of the state’s 33 million people.
“There has been a concerted and planned move in recent times against Christian minority institutions,” said Bishop Thomas Tharayil, convener of the Public Affairs Committee (PAC) of the Syro-Malabar Church.
Christians form only 18 percent of Kerala’s population. Both Christians and Muslims are religious minorities, as Hindus form 54 percent of the state’s population.
The Eastern rite Syro-Malabar Church, under which the diocese functions, has urged the state government to protect the college and managers, fearing the students’ protest could turn violent.
The demand has “no legal or moral standing,” Bishop Tharayil said in a statement on July 28….
