Christian women lured into IS trap: Catholic body

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: An influential Catholic body has alleged that scores of Christian women from Kerala were being lured “into the trap of Islamic State (IS)” and used in terror activities.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Synod of Syro-malabar Church, an apex body of Catholic Bishops chaired by Cardinal George Alencherry, accused police of inaction. The Synod referred to police records and said out of 21 people recruited in Kerala for the IS terror group, half were converted from Christianity.

The statement said “unofficial accounts say many girls were being used in terror activities” and called it a serious matter.

The Synod said the issue was affecting the friendship between religions and urged the government to treat it as a law and order matter and not a religious one. It demanded speedy action against the culprits involved and said that parents and children should be sensitised about the dangers.

“Instead of viewing this as a religious issue, police should consider this as a law and order problem that threatens to vitiate communal harmony. Statistics with us show it is not imaginary. There have been recent complaints in the state that women were sexually abused in the name of love and later forced to convert,” the statement said.

The Popular Front of India (PFI), a Muslim organisation, questioned the “timing” of the statement. It urged the Church to withdraw it immediately, saying it would only help create division amid growing unity among various sections of society.

“The Church is raising such a baseless allegation at a time when the minorities including Muslims and Christians and the people of the Hindu community are in a joint fight against the Fascist government at the Centre,” said Naziruddin Elamaram, PFI leader.