Mumbai: February 26, 2012. (PCP) The religious cleansing complete and now Kashmir valley will be 100% Muslim after fleeing of Christian when Hindu Pundits and Sikhs were also forced to flee decades ago. It was disclosed in a press conference at Mumbai Press Club by Mr. Joseph Dias, Secretary General of CSF, Adv. Iftikhar Bazmi, India Representative, IRDC (Washington DC) and Justice Michael Saldanha, ex Judge of Bombay & Karnataka High Courts that Christians faced torture, persecution, en masse massacre and violation of human rights which forced them to flee from Kashir valley. Indian Christians, unable to bear the wrath of radical "Islamists" have fled Kashmir and live scattered throughout the country. The tales of woe faced by clergymen, community leaders and their families were narrated by the victims and others at a meet organized by The Catholic-Christian Secular Forum, (CSF) a Mumbai based activist NGO, advocating their cause and working to rehabilitate the affected. Justice Michael Saldanha, a retired judge from the Bombay and Karnataka High Courts said that it was unfortunate that the state government could not guarantee the safety and security of its citizens. "There was no question of there being a "Supreme Court of Islamic Shariet" issuing fatwas and the state government looking the other way. The Sharia is not applicable to non-Muslims and must be restricted to the community. The Christians in Kashmir were facing the same fate as that of the Hindu Pundits and even worse because they are miniscule in number and are commanded by their faith, not to retaliate", he added. Advocate Iftikhar Bazmi, who was also summoned by the Shariet Court, said he did not go because those at the helm of affairs behaved in an un-Islamic manner. He called upon the Jammu and Kashmir government to protect minorities and ensure rule of law, as such fundamentalism would only prove to be disastrous for the country. He also pointed out that while India had amended its Constitution to include the words "secular democracy", the J & K Constitution was not amended. Advocate Bazmi is India representative on the International Center for Religion and Diplomacy, headquartered in Washington DC and is also secretary of the Poonch Bar Association in J & K. Joseph Dias, The CSF general secretary urged the prime minister to grant a special package from the PM's Relief Fund to take care of the victims, who were no less refugees in their own land. He appealed to the union government to intervene and resolve the issue, which concerned Indian Christians, who were being treated worse than second class citizens and were at least entitled to fundamental human rights. The CSF released its report, after a team went to J & K recently to find out and document the persecution, which was no different to those experienced in extremist countries. Victims describe what Kashmiri Christian families are facing 1. Burnt with live coals and left to die 2. Homeless in the snow, with no money 3. No freedom of religion or right to choose 4. Brutally injured, with suffering wives and children 5. Maulvi Committees and Special Investigation Teams 6. Fanatics claim Police, Judiciary and Government with them 7. Socio-Economic boycott leaves the Christians impoverished 8. Demonizing and profiling Christians to religiously cleanse them 9. Islamic finance pouring in and being used to finance the war on Christians 10. Danger of extremists and anti-national forces jumping on the bandwagon 11. Fanatics falsely claim 20,000 Muslims converted to Christianity since 1990s 12. Many districts are affected by persecution, where Christians are hounded out 23 year ago: 19, January, 1990 - Pundits & Christians of Pundit Origin hounded. This is exactly what is happening to the 200 odd Christians in the Kashmir valley • Christian children die, wives separated to be given to others and property taken. • Christian families are near-death because of attacks and total boycott, forsaken by all. • Christians must revert or leave Kashmir. Else face the consequences that few want to. • Christian institutions/NGOs face being taken over and the community becoming extinct. • Churches or Christians can do nothing but become martyrs for they cannot take up arms. Ground Zero realities: Christian Victims of “Supreme Court of Islamic Shariet” 1. Hate campaigns, frenzied zealots, loot.. 2. Hostile legal and official state machinery 3. Christian schools & institutions targeted 4. Christians are soft targets with no support 5. Muslims well organized to protect the faith 6. Persecution history of death, churches burnt & mayhem 7. Hundred Percent Muslim Kashmir – Christian dilemma in J & K Democracy, Federalism, Secularism, Harmony & Minority Rights at Stake The CSF Urgent Recommendations 1. The union government must intervene forthwith put an end to the persecution caused by the Islamic fundamentalists, under the garb of Shariet law and the enquiries being conducted by the Special Investigation Team, appointed by the state government, which is targeting Christians. 2. The union & state governments must ensures the safety of Rev. CM Khanna, Fr. Jim Borst, missionaries and dozen converted families, whose lives and property are in danger. All secular-minded citizens feel that there is grave threat and Christians live in fear and constant danger. 3. The affected Kashmiri Christians, living worse than refugees must be rehabilitated in a camp at Jammu or any suitable place, given property and facilities, government jobs and loans, free-ships and grants, besides other facilities to rebuild their lives and survive elsewhere in J & K. 4. If the union and state governments can’t take care of even the basic needs of the Kashmiri Christians, which is security and freedom of religion, then the government should declare them as “refugees” or “internally displaced persons”, which will enable them get relief from elsewhere. 5. The “Supreme Court of Islamic Shariet in J & K”, is an extra-constitutional authority, with no legal sanction and Fatwas or complaints by / against believers of any faiths is unhealthy for secularism & is to be avoided. The communal harmony and rule of law needs to be restored. 6. Efforts must be made to stop the rumor-mongering and baseless allegations, being made in Kashmir and stereotyping / profiling the Christian community, as converting with allurements, such as providing neo-converts with money, alcohol, women, passports, immoral lifestyle, etc. 7. The civil society, human rights activists, mass media and patriots must rise to the occasion and express solidarity with the Christians in Kashmir and ensure that their constitutional rights and freedoms are safeguarded – as in such a hostile environment, they are defenceless. 8. The police under pressure from the "Supreme Court of Islamic Shariet", has registered false cases trumped-up under sections 153A and 295A, for spreading hatred between communities, etc. These cases have been forged upon the missionaries and Christians without a shred of evidence. We therefore urge that they be squashed by the government. 9. The state government needs to consider extending the National Minorities Commission Act and other such human rights and Indian Constitutional safeguards legislation or enact such laws for application in J & K, to ensure that the fundamental guarantees to citizens are available, as available in all other parts of the country. Some of those affected by persecution Fr. Jim Borst - Serving J & K for 50 years Rev. CM Khanna – Serving as priest for 35 years Juan Marcos Troia, an Argentinian football coach Rev. Gayur Massih and Family – 22 years in ministry Rev. S. Neethirajan and Family – 20 years in ministry Mr. Predhuman Joseph Dhar – Bible scholar of Pundit origin