New Delhi
January 3, 2024 (morning star news)
A Sri Lankan pastor who has been in jail since December 1 on charges of “insulting religious sentiments” for comments he made in a sermon posted online was released on bail on Wednesday (January 3), according to sources. It is said that it has been recognized.
Authorities arrested Pastor Jerome Fernando, senior overseer of Colombo's Glorious Church, after a court ordered authorities to refrain from arrest.he was there reportedly He was released on cash bail of 500,000 rupees (US$1,540) and two personal bails of 10 million rupees (US$30,810) each, and was prohibited from leaving the country.
Sri Lankan Christian leaders said many churches had issued statements in solidarity with Pastor Fernando and demanding his release.
“Today it's him, tomorrow it could be us, so we stand together,” the leader said on condition of anonymity.
He claimed that the authorities and religious leaders were gradually beginning to turn the attitude of Sri Lankans towards the Christian community.
“Things are moving slowly and we don't know what will happen in the long term,” he said. “The unfortunate truth is that the church is not prepared for such an attack.”
The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) expressed grave concern at the growing intolerance and violation of freedom of expression in a press statement on December 2 regarding the pastor's arrest.
In their complaint against Pastor Fernando, Sri Lankan authorities said his actions violated Sri Lanka's International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Act. The Covenant is based on the ICCPR, which aims to protect rather than restrict rights.
Authorities arrested the pastor in part based on Section 56, Section 3, Paragraph 1 of the Sri Lanka ICCPR Act 2007. The article states, “No person shall spread war or advocate national, racial, or religious hatred that incites discrimination, hostility, or violence.''
The NCEASL statement said the authorities had used Article 3(1) of the ICCPR without thoroughly assessing “whether the expression really incites violence or discrimination.”
“The ICCPR has often been invoked to protect religions and beliefs from perceived criticism or insults, rather than prioritizing the protection of human rights and protecting vulnerable populations from incitement to violence.” said the group.
NCEASL appealed to the authorities to drop the charges against Pastor Fernando and to foster a friendly environment where individuals have the freedom of expression befitting a democracy.
Pastor Fernando was charged with “outraging the religious feelings of any class of people” under section 291B of the Penal Code and section 56(3)(1) of the 2007 Civil Rights Act.
controversial video
A video of Pastor Fernando's April 30 Sunday sermon went viral on social media in May, leading to accusations that the pastor had hurt the religious sentiments of Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim communities in his message.
some media said The pastor said in his sermon that the Buddha was “looking for Jesus,” which caused an uproar among Buddhists.
In mid-May, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe ordered the Central Intelligence Agency (CID) to launch an immediate investigation into the complaints. Mr. Wickremesinghe reportedly told National Security Adviser Sagara Ratnayake that such statements could spark religious conflict.
New Buddhist Front (Nawa Bhiksh Peramuna) and that Pivituru Hera Urumaya (PHU) filed a complaint with the CID seeking the arrest of Pastor Fernando. A group including Buddhist leader El Gunawangsa Tello and several others have filed a petition with the Supreme Court asking the Supreme Court to take legal action against Pastor Fernando and order the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to arrest him.
Pastor Fernando filed a motion with the Supreme Court on May 26 to block his arrest, saying he had been advised that his sermons did not constitute any crime. He further pointed out that Article 10 of the Sri Lankan Constitution guarantees “freedom of thought, conscience and religion.”
In his petition, he apologized to Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim clerics and anyone whose religious sentiments may have been hurt, and later, on August 18, his parents also apologized for his comments. I apologized.
Pastor Fernando and his family managed to flee the country two days before the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court imposed a ban on foreign travel. Following the pastor's departure, the Court of Appeal on November 17 ordered the CID's cybercrime investigation department to record Pastor Fernando's statements within 48 hours of his return, and ordered the CID to record the pastor's statements within 48 hours of his return. He reportedly ordered him to refrain from arrest.
Fernando returned to the island nation on November 29 knowing he would not be arrested and appeared at the CID office the next day to record his statement. Authorities told him to return the next day (December 1) and he was arrested a few hours after arriving at the CID office.
On the same day, Pastor Fernando appeared before the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court, where the court ordered him to be remanded until December 13th, which was extended to December 27th, and then again to January 3rd. It was extended to.
If you would like to help persecuted Christians, please visit: https://Morning Star News.Organization/Resource/Aid Agency/ FoA list of organizations that will tell you how to get involved.
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Photo courtesy of Pastor Jerome Fernando was arrested in Sri Lanka on December 1, 2023. (Keshia Kumaresan, Creative Commons) via Morningstar News
Originally published by Morningstar News. Used with permission.
Listen: On the front lines of missionary work
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views and positions of Salem Web Network and Salem Media Group.
Watch: 7 Lessons from Christians in South Asia
read: 10 Lessons from Navajo Christian Missionaries and Lessons learned from international women missionaries
Church Leader in Sri Lanka Criminally Charged for Sermon Comments
New Delhi
January 3, 2024 (morning star news)
A Sri Lankan pastor who has been in jail since December 1 on charges of “insulting religious sentiments” for comments he made in a sermon posted online was released on bail on Wednesday (January 3), according to sources. It is said that it has been recognized.
Authorities arrested Pastor Jerome Fernando, senior overseer of Colombo's Glorious Church, after a court ordered authorities to refrain from arrest.he was there reportedly He was released on cash bail of 500,000 rupees (US$1,540) and two personal bails of 10 million rupees (US$30,810) each, and was prohibited from leaving the country.
Sri Lankan Christian leaders said many churches had issued statements in solidarity with Pastor Fernando and demanding his release.
“Today it's him, tomorrow it could be us, so we stand together,” the leader said on condition of anonymity.
He claimed that the authorities and religious leaders were gradually beginning to turn the attitude of Sri Lankans towards the Christian community.
“Things are moving slowly and we don't know what will happen in the long term,” he said. “The unfortunate truth is that the church is not prepared for such an attack.”
The National Christian Evangelical Alliance of Sri Lanka (NCEASL) expressed grave concern at the growing intolerance and violation of freedom of expression in a press statement on December 2 regarding the pastor's arrest.
In their complaint against Pastor Fernando, Sri Lankan authorities said his actions violated Sri Lanka's International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Act. The Covenant is based on the ICCPR, which aims to protect rather than restrict rights.
Authorities arrested the pastor in part based on Section 56, Section 3, Paragraph 1 of the Sri Lanka ICCPR Act 2007. The article states, “No person shall spread war or advocate national, racial, or religious hatred that incites discrimination, hostility, or violence.''
The NCEASL statement said the authorities had used Article 3(1) of the ICCPR without thoroughly assessing “whether the expression really incites violence or discrimination.”
“The ICCPR has often been invoked to protect religions and beliefs from perceived criticism or insults, rather than prioritizing the protection of human rights and protecting vulnerable populations from incitement to violence.” said the group.
NCEASL appealed to the authorities to drop the charges against Pastor Fernando and to foster a friendly environment where individuals have the freedom of expression befitting a democracy.
Pastor Fernando was charged with “outraging the religious feelings of any class of people” under section 291B of the Penal Code and section 56(3)(1) of the 2007 Civil Rights Act.
controversial video
A video of Pastor Fernando's April 30 Sunday sermon went viral on social media in May, leading to accusations that the pastor had hurt the religious sentiments of Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim communities in his message.
some media said The pastor said in his sermon that the Buddha was “looking for Jesus,” which caused an uproar among Buddhists.
In mid-May, Sri Lankan President Ranil Wickremesinghe ordered the Central Intelligence Agency (CID) to launch an immediate investigation into the complaints. Mr. Wickremesinghe reportedly told National Security Adviser Sagara Ratnayake that such statements could spark religious conflict.
New Buddhist Front (Nawa Bhiksh Peramuna) and that Pivituru Hera Urumaya (PHU) filed a complaint with the CID seeking the arrest of Pastor Fernando. A group including Buddhist leader El Gunawangsa Tello and several others have filed a petition with the Supreme Court asking the Supreme Court to take legal action against Pastor Fernando and order the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to arrest him.
Pastor Fernando filed a motion with the Supreme Court on May 26 to block his arrest, saying he had been advised that his sermons did not constitute any crime. He further pointed out that Article 10 of the Sri Lankan Constitution guarantees “freedom of thought, conscience and religion.”
In his petition, he apologized to Buddhist, Hindu and Muslim clerics and anyone whose religious sentiments may have been hurt, and later, on August 18, his parents also apologized for his comments. I apologized.
Pastor Fernando and his family managed to flee the country two days before the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court imposed a ban on foreign travel. Following the pastor's departure, the Court of Appeal on November 17 ordered the CID's cybercrime investigation department to record Pastor Fernando's statements within 48 hours of his return, and ordered the CID to record the pastor's statements within 48 hours of his return. He reportedly ordered him to refrain from arrest.
Fernando returned to the island nation on November 29 knowing he would not be arrested and appeared at the CID office the next day to record his statement. Authorities told him to return the next day (December 1) and he was arrested a few hours after arriving at the CID office.
On the same day, Pastor Fernando appeared before the Colombo Fort Magistrate's Court, where the court ordered him to be remanded until December 13th, which was extended to December 27th, and then again to January 3rd. It was extended to.
If you would like to help persecuted Christians, please visit: https://Morning Star News.Organization/Resource/Aid Agency/ FoA list of organizations that will tell you how to get involved.
If you or your organization would like to help Morning Star News continue to raise awareness of persecuted Christians around the world through original content coverage, please consider supporting us below. https://Morning Star News.organization/donation/ ?
Photo courtesy of Pastor Jerome Fernando was arrested in Sri Lanka on December 1, 2023. (Keshia Kumaresan, Creative Commons) via Morningstar News
Originally published by Morningstar News. Used with permission.
Listen: On the front lines of missionary work
The views and opinions expressed in this podcast are those of the speakers and do not necessarily reflect the views and positions of Salem Web Network and Salem Media Group.
Watch: 7 Lessons from Christians in South Asia
read: 10 Lessons from Navajo Christian Missionaries and Lessons learned from international women missionaries
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