India: Christian Professor Has Hand and Arm Cut off for 'Blasphemy' against Muhammad

By Nirmala Carvalho
7/5/2010
Asia News (www.asianews.it/)

The victim is a college professor who "insulted Muhammad" in an exam questionnaire. Islamic extremism is growing in Kerala: many schools face pressures on the use of the veil. The condemnation of national Muslim organizations. Sajan K. George: Sharia is not law in India. Some of the detained are activists of the Popular Front of India, a right wing Muslim group.

Joseph's sister, Mary Stella, says that 'the assailants destroyed the window of our car and pulled out my brother to execute him. My poor mother, who was in the car with us, witnessed the crime'.

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ERNAKULAM, India (AsiaNews) - A group of unknown assailants severed the hand and the right arm of a university professor accused of defaming Mohammed months ago. The execution took place yesterday morning in Muvattupuzha, Ernakulam district (Kerala). Sajan K George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians condemns this "barbaric act" and recalls that "Sharia is not the law of India."

According to the police, Prof. TJ Joseph, was returning with his family from Sunday service when a group of people in a Maruti Omni van drew up beside him stopping him close to home. After forcing Joseph to get out of his car, they attacked him with knives and swords, then cut off his hand and right arm throwing them away after about 200 meters.

The professor was immediately transported to a hospital in Muvattupuzha and then to another specialized in surgery, where doctors are trying to mend his severed hand. The professor has also suffered deep wounds to his body and is in need of plastic surgery.

Joseph, Kerala, a professor at Newman's College, Thodupuzha, is free on bail. Last March he had prepared a questionnaire for examinations in the private college and according to the Muslims had included questions offensive to Muhammad.

Due to a series of protests by Islamic groups, he was suspended from school. Later, Joseph publicly apologized for his "unintentional error". Joseph's mother said that in recent months her son continued to receive threats.

Meanwhile, the police found the van of the attackers, empty, and "the vehicle registration number is false," said police inspector P.P. Shams. Some of the detained are activists of the Popular Front of India, a right wing Muslim group, formerly called the National Development Front, which is very strong in Kerala.

Joseph's sister, Mary Stella, says that "the assailants destroyed the window of our car and pulled out my brother to execute him. My poor mother, who was in the car with us, witnessed the crime".

The Minister of Education, M.A. Baby has condemned the incident, expressing his displeasure because some have turned the issue of the exam questionnaire into a matter of religious conflict.

Sajan K. George, president of the Global Council of India (Gcoi), condemned the "barbaric act" and demands that "the attackers are brought to justice soon. I hope that - as usually happens - the complaint will not disappear in police records because of threats from Islamic militants in Kerala. "

Sajan K. George gives voice to the whole civil society which "expresses sorrow for these attacks by Muslims against Christians in Kerala. It should be noted that Islamic law is not the law of our country".According to the Gcoi president Kerala is witnessing a growth of Islamic extremism: "Christian schools are often targeted on the headscarf issue or another issue and unfortunately many schools succumb under pressure. The design of these militants is to provoke peaceful Christian communities and provoke a civil war. The rapid growth of the Muslim population and their influence in elections is increasing safety concerns for Christians throughout the country".

The attack against Joseph has been condemned by several Muslim organizations, including the Indian Union Muslim League (Iuml) and the Jama'at-e-Islami, which calls for a significant response against the culprits. Panakad Hyderali Shiyab Thangal, supreme leader of Iuml, has asked that the perpetrators be prosecuted harshly. And referring to the questionnaire compiled by Joseph, said: "An error can not be corrected by another mistake".

The indicted questionnaire however did not include anything that could be construed as against the Muslim religion. The authorities of Newman College, told AsiaNews that in the test, Prof. Joseph tells the story of a fishmonger who, despite hard work, becomes increasingly poor. The monger's name is Mohammad In his desperation, he spoke to God and also asked his brother why his fortunes were dwindling. His brother told Mohammed:"Why are you calling God, God, God...." Students were asked to specify the punctuation of the narrative.

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1 - 10 of 23 Comments

ExMuslim
2 years ago
We need to stop Islam before it takes over us, humans. These barbarians who practice such cult must be dealt with severely. Muhammad was a sick man, whose lust for young beautiful women and couldn't stand sight of those who condemn him. He is a Narcissist, who enjoys violence upon his oppressors and seeks people to praise him, such that he became a worshipping Idol for his followers. Till today no one is spared if Muhammad is criticised. They spare you if you condemn Allah, but they kill if you condemn Muhammad. The Qur'an as a whole is nothing but violence against unbelievers and woman. Even his youngest wife said in a Hadith that Allah seems to be willingly fulfilling anything he (Muhammad) desires, as whatever he want would magically appear in the Qur'an whenever his followers slightly show distaste to a matter he orders or preaches.
I was born as a Muslim and studied in an Islamic school, I should know.
sunil
2 years ago
The report is trying to hide the contents of the question paper, where the prophet is insulted categorically. Besides this incident is not accidental. Mr. Joseph was warned of the consequences of his question paper while it was put to scrutiny before typing and even also before it was printed.

That means there is every chance of a concerted effort with meticulous planning by the fascist sangh parivar who are against both Christians (who raped nuns and massacred Christians in Orissa and Muslims (who were ethnically cleansed in Gujarat in 2002) to fight each other so that they can be benefited.

Hence it is high time for both these communities to understand each other with more dialogues than going for mutual insulting programmes and publications.
hisham
2 years ago
An error can not be corrected by another mistake.i am a muslim and living in kerala, india.i have so many christian friends , i am studied in a cristian missionary school of jesuit society of st. ignasious layola and we are living together in a peaceful and respective manner.and it will not be destroyed by some people activity.the law and court will take significant response against the culprits.dont convert this issue against religious harmony in our state.islam is a religion of peace.judaism,cristianity and islam are came from same root.......that we call our Abrahamic faith.we all belive in oneness of god.belief of our religious concept are always same.the only diffrence is the religious practice and way of life.india is a social, secular, soverign democractic country.according to india the word secular means the country has no specific religion, but it respect all religions in india.so we the people of india must respect all religion in our country.let us love God and trust him!
Vincent StLaurant Phillips
2 years ago
This is the savagey, inhumanity and unspeakable terror that Islam has unleashed on an unsuspecting and too trusting world.
troisnyx*
2 years ago
@Tracy : Amen to that ! I am a Malaysian too ! Only that I live in the capital, and the dissent is more clearly drawn. The tension is greater.
Tracy
2 years ago
Most of my muslim friends are called Mohammad. And I have more muslim friends than christian friends because I live in Malaysia. Now, as for the fanatic muslims... not all muslims are like that. In this part of the country, ALL of my muslim friends are peaceful and tolerant. We never had any kind of religious trouble. When a minor religious problem occurred in the west Malaysia recently, we here in the east, the christians and the muslims just shook our heads in disbelief. None of them want an Islamic state although the muslims form more than 60% of the population. They are more than happy to live in harmony with christians, buddhists and hindus. I think the root of the problem is education from home. Anyway, what I'm saying is, while there are stories of violence in the name of Islam all over the world, in this little Borneo island of ours, we have none of that problem. In fact, we christians are very happy with our peace-loving muslim neighbours. The same can't be said about those in west Malaysia though. I remember my college years when I could clearly see the west Malaysian Malays (muslims) and Chinese having indiscriminately mingled with both sides how much they resent each other which was quite amusing sometimes. They befriended us from the east probably because they think we are quite exotic.. lol.. But if you want to see really peaceful, happy muslims, come to Borneo..:)
Marino
2 years ago
This is Islam.
Those criminals are just doing what the Qu'ran is telling them to do.
They are JUST practicing the Mohammedanism's Islam
Way to Go Islam!! Way to Go Religion Of Peace!! Way to Go Criminals!!

May Jesus and Marry be with as in all the world, and here in the east...
John D
2 years ago
This sort of thing is called for in the Koran. The key to understading Islam is this: the Koran is not in chronological order. In the beginning of his career, Mohammed was a street corner preacher trying to pass himself off as a profit in a pagan Mecca. At that point he had no army and thus had to say nice things about Christians and Jews. They rejected him saying that his preaching was nothing more then recycled material from earlier scripture. The pagans ran him out of Mecca. He eventually befriended and inspired some ignorant thugs and in the name of religion had some early military victories against some Jewish settlements. As he gained power and riches (through plunder), the "revelations" he claimed were coming from God got nastier and more graphic with regards to violence and defending the profit and going after other religions. Because the Koran is not in chronological order, the true nature of Islam is hidden behind intentionally muddled confusion regarding contradictory statements. At its core, the theology is faulty, intolerant, and oppressive. If you want to know more, read this: http://www.answering-islam.org/Authors/Fisher/Topical/index.htm Also, pray that Muslims will one day know the true peace and love of Jesus Christ.
Bulbajer
2 years ago
Maciej and Joy omi, I agree.
dominic
2 years ago
let professor Joseph know that he is in the prayers of all right thinking people and christians in the world. May God bless him and give him strength.

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