Church-run educational institutions in a southern Indian state have decided not to allow Islamic prayers (namaz) on their campuses.
“We have decided our academic campuses will not allot special space or extra time for Muslim students to offer namaz,” said Father Jose Kulathoor, chancellor of the Eastern rite Syro-Malabar Kothamangalam diocese in southern Kerala.
In two separate incidents in less than a month, Muslim students sought special space and extra time to offer namaz during classes. On Aug. 9, two female students raised the demand at St. Joseph Higher Secondary School in Paingottoor village in Kothamangalam diocese in central Ernakulam district.
“One of our teachers noticed two female students of Grade XII offering namaz inside the classroom and they were cautioned against it,” said Father Jacob Rathapillil, director of the diocesan Jagratha (vigilance) commission.
“When the school management flatly rejected their demand they went back and there was no further provocation,” said Kulathoor.
On July 26, Church-run Nirmala College in Kothamangalam diocese witnessed protests when staff prevented a few Muslim female students from offering namaz inside a room in the college.
Angry students held the priest principal as a hostage for three hours in support of their demand.
The issue was settled after Muslim leaders in the area disagreed with the demand and sought an apology from the principal and the management.
“There seems to be a well-orchestrated attempt to target our education institutions,” Kulathoor said.
The Deepika, a Church-run daily published from Kerala, on Aug. 14 categorically stated in an editorial that Church-run education institutions “will not permit namaz on their campuses.”
Kerala serves as headquarters of the Syro-Malabar and the Malanka Churches which run many educational institutions in the state.
A senior Church official told UCA News that the bishops will uphold the banning order after a meeting of the synod, the apex decision-making body of the the Syro-Malabar Church, second largest Eastern rite Church.
The Syro-Malabar Church synod began on Aug. 19 in Mount St. Thomas in Ernakulam district in Kerala. Nearly 53 bishops are attending the synod that will conclude on Aug. 31.
We will not discriminate anyone based on religion, caste, creed or other differences in our academic campuses, added Father Kulathoor.
Christians make up 18 percent of Kerala’s 33 million people and are the third largest religious community after Hindus (54 percent) and Muslims (26 percent).
source : uca news