Sanal Edamaruku on Catholic "miracles"
Salim Fadhley's interview with Sanal Edamaruku

http://soundcloud.com/salimfadhley/sanal-edamaruku-on-catholic#play

The Catholic Church is famous for it’s preposterous fabricated miracles. The church has an interest in promoting innumerable bones of saints with allegedly curative properties, mystical shrouds and apparitions of the blessed virgin mary - they confer a sense of spiritual authority upon the church and help raise funds.

While the Church in Europe is not quite as money-grubbing as it once was - it’s evolved into a sort of anti-women’s rights orgaization that mostly disapproves of child sexual abuse. The Indian catholic church seems to find miracles just about everywhere.

Sanal Edamuruku, president of the Indian Rationalist association was recently asked to investigate one such miracle - I began by asking him how he came to be inspecting a Catholic church in Bombay in March of this year...

The various legal actions targeted at Sanal are intended to bankrupt his organization and silence his dissenting voice. The Indian Rationalist association is raising money to defend Sanal from this criminal action. We’ve put a link in our show-notes in case you want to find our more or donate to the appeal fund.

यीशु की मूर्ति से टपकता पानी एक चमत्कार?

यीशु की मूर्ति से टपकता पानी एक चमत्कार " सनल इडामारूकू ने मुंबई में इस सच को उजागर किया जिससे नाराज हो कर चर्च नेताओं ने धमकी दी |चर्च के लोंगों ने सनल को परेशान करने के मकसद से उनके खिलाफ मुंबई के कई पुलिस स्टेशन पर मामला दर्ज कराया | सनल किसी भी क्षण गिरफ्तार हो सकते हैं |

“ये कोई नई बात नहीं है जब किसी केथोलिक बिशप के पास कोई तर्क न होने पर उसने अपने प्रतिद्वंदी को धर्म  के नाम पर मौत की सजा सुना दी गयी हो | गियार्देनो  ब्रुनो इसका एक उदहारण है | वो मेरे साथ कोशिश कर सकते हैं पर मुझे मेरे तर्कों ,वैज्ञानिक और ऐतिहासिक तथ्यों के साथ खड़े होने को रोक नहीं सकते हैं | में अकेला नहीं हूँ | अभिव्यक्ति की स्वतंत्रता पर हमला है और हम इसे बचाने के लिए जा रहे हैं! “

-सनल इडामारूकू

चमत्कार का सच

१० मार्च को सनल इडामारूकू ने मुंबई के लिए उडान भरी | मुंबई के चर्च में हो रहे चमत्कार की चर्चा के लिए टीवी -९ ने उन्हें आमंत्रित किया | सनल अपनी टीवी टीम के साथ विले पार्ले के इर्ला में स्थित चर्च में निरीक्षण के लिए पहुंचे | चर्च में लेडी ऑफ़ वेलान्कन्नी के सामने सूली पर यीशु की मूर्ति लोंगों के बीच एक आकर्षण का केंद्र बना हुआ था | लोग दूर-दूर से यहाँ आ रहे थे | इस चमत्कार की खबर जंगल में आग की तरह फ़ैल गयी थी | कुछ दिनों से यीशु की मूर्ति के पैर से पानी की बूंद गिर रही थी | हजारों लोग वहां आते थे ,प्रार्थना करते थे और उस पवित्र पानी को इकठ्ठा करके ले जाते थे | इस समय इर्ला भक्तों का केंद्र बिंदु बना हुआ था | सनल इडामारूकू ने घटना स्थल का निरीक्षण कर वहाँ की पोल खोली | उन्होंने पानी आने का स्रोत ( नाली ) पता किया और इस प्रक्रिया को समझाया कि यह पानी किस तरह सूक्ष्म नलिका प्रभाव ( कैपिलरी एक्शन ) से उनके पैरों से गिर रहा है | जो लोकल नेता थे उस निरीक्षण के दौरान वहां मौजूद थे पर इन सब से असंतुष्ट थे | इसका  संक्षिप्त विवरण आप यूट्यूब पर देख सकते हैं |

टीवी पर बहस बिशप के साथ..

कुछ समय बाद सनल ने टीवी-९ के सामने अपने सारे सबूतों तथ्यों को पेश किया और केथोलिक चर्च पर आरोप लगाया की वो पर्चे बाँट कर इस चमत्कार का ढिढोरा पीट रही है |  इसके बाद पांच चर्च नेताओं और सनल के बीच बहस शुरू हुई | उनमे से  एगस्तीन पेलेट  ( प्रीस्ट ऑफ़ अवर लेडी ऑफ़ वेलान्कन्नी चर्च ) और एसोसिएशन ऑफ़ कंसर्न्ड कैथोलिक के प्रतिनिधियों ने मांग रखी , कि सनल सबसे माफ़ी मांगे |पर सनल ने हिम्मत से उनसे बहस की |  चर्च के बिशप एगनोलो ग्रेसिअस ने फ़ोन से इस बहस में हस्तक्षेप कर चर्च की छवि को पुनः सुधारने की कोशिश की | उन्होंने बताया की चर्च में इस तरह की अलोकिक घटनाएँ पहले भी होती रही हैं और इसके लिए वैज्ञानिक तर्क ढूढने की कोशिश करना चाहिए | उन्होंने यह भी आश्वासन दिया कि पोप का विज्ञान से एक अच्छा नाता है | सनल बहुत ही सौम्यता से जबाब दे रहे थे | उन्होंने गिओरदानो ब्रुनो का भी उदहारण दिया | उन्होंने यह भी बताया की इस तरह के चमत्कार को वेटिकन आयोग से स्वीकृति मिलती है और प्रमाणित किया जाता है | ये चमत्कार सभी संत को करना अनिवार्य होता है | आज पूरे विश्व में करीब १०,००० से अधिक संत है , जिन्हें इस 'चमत्कार व्यापार 'के लिए प्रमाणित किया गया  है | विज्ञान से नाता रखने वाले पोप वेटिकेन में झाड़- फूंक के आदेश देते हैं | हाल ही के प्रेस रिपोर्टों के अनुसार,पोप ने व्यक्तिगत रूप से एक स्विस गार्ड के अंदर बैठे शैतान को झाड़- फूक कर बाहर निकला था | इस दिलचस्प बहस में सनल सभी तर्कों के जबाब देने में सफल रहे| पूरे कार्यक्रम को टीवी पर रिकार्ड किया गया | इसका  संक्षिप्त विवरण आप यूट्यूब पर देख सकते हैं |

टीवी पर धमकी ...

जब वो सनल से माफ़ी मंगवाने में असफल रहे और सनल ने उनके सामने घुटने नहीं टेके तो उनकी सारी आशाओं पर पानी फिर गया| इस पर उन्होंने सार्वजानिक रूप से सनल के खिलाफ मामला दर्ज करने की धमकी दी | सनल ने सबको समझाते हुए बताया की उन्होंने जो भी  बोला है , उसके सारे साबुत उनके पास हैं ,जो वो कोर्ट में पेश करेंगे और एक दिन बिशप को इस कटघरे में खड़ा कर देंगे | क्रोधित हो कर चर्च के लोंगों ने सनल को परेशान करने के मकसद से उनके खिलाफ मुंबई के कई पुलिस स्टेशन पर मामला दर्ज कराया 

सनल किसी भी क्षण  गिरफ्तार हो सकते हैं

अभी तक की जानकारी के अनुसार  भारतीय दंड संहिता की धारा २९५ के आधार पर सनल के खिलाफ तीन शिकायतें  दायर की गयी हैं | इस बीच, मुंबई पुलिस ने घोषणा की, कि वे सनल को  गिरफ्तार करने निकल चुके हैं | सनल किसी भी क्षण  गिरफ्तार हो सकते हैं | किसी भी जगह जहाँ उनके खिलाफ याचिका दायर हुई है , उन्हें जबाब देने के लिए मजबूर किया जा सकता है,ऐसा न करने पर या उत्तर से संतुष्ट न होने पर उन्हें गिरफ्तार भी किया जा सकता है | उन्होंने विभिन्न स्थानों में चल रहे आपराधिक मामलों  से लड़ने के लिए मजबूर किया जा सकता है | ये सब समय और पैसे के लिए नहीं किया गया है | कुछ कैथोलिक विश्वासियों की कट्टरता को देखते हुए उनके जीवन को खतरा हो सकता है |

सनल इडामारूकू रक्षा समिति ..

तर्कवादी अंतर्राष्ट्रीय रेशनलिस्ट इंटरनेश्नल ने एक सनल इडामारूकू रक्षा समिति का गठन किया है | इस के संयोजक प्रसिद्ध मानवाधिकार वकील और कार्यकर्ता श्री एन.डी.पंचोली है |

यदि आप हमें समर्थन करना चाहते हैं, तो आप इसे दो तरीकों से कर सकते हैं |

१.  इस मामले से संबंधित जानकारी और वीडियो का प्रचार आसपास करें |

२. रक्षा कोष का समर्थन दान दे कर करें | (यहा क्लिक करे)

अनुवादक -दीपाली सिन्हा

The kind of skeptics we should be touting
Post on "True Equality"

http://www.true-equality.net/archive/2012/04/25/the-kind-of-skeptics-we-should-be-touting.aspx



Sanal Edamaruku, an Indian skeptic, went to Mumbai and revealed that a "miraculous" weeping cross was really just a bit of statuary located near a leaky drain whose liquid reached it by way of capillary action. The local Catholic Church demanded that he retract his statements, and when he refused, they had him charged for blasphemy.

http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/indian-skeptic-charged-with.html

He was notable a while back for challenging an Indian tantric woo-meister to try and kill him with his magical mind powers.


On this case my feelings should be pretty clear. There is not magic, people who believe this is a miracle are fools and the Catholic church are a bunch of totalitarian thugs and the very idea of a blaspemy law is backwards and oppressive.

I’ve been dismissive in the past of certain people in the skeptic movement, like Rebecca Watson. The reason is that such people don’t seem to do much, they manoeuvre in social circles and increase their own power but they are not the classic debunkers in the mould of James Randi and Sanal Edamaruku. Hell, even though I felt she has been canonised to a silly degree, even Jessica Alquist did something.

Not that you need to debunk things to be a valid figure in the skeptic movement. People who contribute ideas and books such as Michael Shermer, Stephen Pinker, Eugenie Scott, etc, are rightly considered important figures for this very reason.

Sanal is a true skeptic debunker who is doing awesome work in a quite woo-susceptible society. Fair play to him!

Sanal Edamaruku

- A very important and outrageous story that as yet has barely made the news. Sanal Edamaruku faces arrest simply for being right.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lr-eDv7IbVs

Clogged drain instead of "miracle"
Article in Financial Times Deutschland


http://www.ftd.de/lifestyle/outofoffice/:vermeintliche-traenen-am-kruzifix-verstopfter-ablauf-statt-wunder/70027248.htmlVermeintliche Tränen am Kruzifix

Verstopfter Ablauf statt Wunder

Der Inder Sanal Edamaruku enttarnte die Tränen eines weinenden Kruzifixes als Produkte eines verstopften Abwasserkanals. Nun verklagt ihn die Kirche - wegen Blasphemie. von Kathinka

Er ist ja selber Schuld. Als Inder hätte Sanal Edamaruku schließlich wissen müssen, dass sein Karma nicht ewig reichen würde. Irgendwann mussten die Götter ja seiner habhaft werden - oder diejenigen auf Erden, die meinen, einen besonderen Draht zu ihnen zu haben. Edamaruku nämlich ist so etwas wie ein indischer Descartes, der das Opfer einer religiösen Groteske geworden ist: Der strenge Rationalist hat es sich zur Aufgabe gemacht, seinem Land den Aberglauben auszutreiben. Dass er sich damit nicht nur Freunde macht, ist klar. Aber die jüngsten Ereignisse muten dann selbst für indische Verhältnisse äußerst bizarr an: Vor Kurzem enttarnte Edamaruku ein angebliches Wunder als Schabernack - deswegen wird er jetzt verklagt. Von der katholischen Kirche. Wegen Blasphemie.

Das Unheil nahm seinen Lauf, als Edamaruku Anfang März nach Vile Parle reiste, einem Vorort von Mumbai. Der Fernsehsender TV9 hatte ihn eingeladen, sich die dortige Kirche Unserer lieben Frau anzuschauen: Seit ein paar Tagen traten dort Wassertropfen aus einem Kruzifix und rannen wie Tränen am Körper Christi herab. Der TV-Sender wollte, dass Edamaruku das Kreuz begutachtet und eine Einschätzung der Sache gibt - ein Routinejob für den 57-Jährigen.

Denn Edamaruku ist Indiens berühmtester Scharlatanjäger. Seit seinem 15. Lebensjahr wettert er gegen den Aberglauben seiner Zeitgenossen; heute ist er Präsident der Indian Rationalist Association, einem Skeptikerverband mit 100.000 Mitgliedern, die dem allgegenwärtigen Hokuspokus mit kühler Wissenschaft entgegentreten. Landesweit berühmt wurde er, als er sich 2008 in einer TV-Liveshow den magischen Kräften eines hinduistischen Gurus stellte: Der belegte Edamaruku mit einem Todesfluch, aber trotz Wedel, brennenden Eimerchen und allerlei anderem Tamtam blieb Edamaruku am Leben, kichernd und offensichtlich gut unterhalten.

In Vile Parle nun wartete auf den Chefskeptiker der Klassiker: Die Geistlichkeit wertete die Tränen als Wunder, Tausende Inder kamen und staunten - und kauften den Kirchenvätern die abgefüllten Tränen als Heilmittel ab. Edamaruku sah sich um und entdeckte einen Waschsalon. Dessen Abfluss verlief unterhalb des Kruzifixes. "Ich habe einen der Steine über dem Abwasserkanal hochgehoben und gesehen, dass er verstopft war. Wenn Wasser blockiert wird, findet es einen anderen Weg", sagte er später im Fernsehen. In diesem Fall drang das Wasser den Pfahl der Statue hoch und trat dann aus den Nägeln des Kreuzes aus - Wassertransport wie im Kapillarsystems eines Baums. Das Wunder war keines.

Im folgenden Streitgespräch auf TV9 empörten sich die Bloßgestellten, Edamaruku lachte und blieb hart: "Ich werde mich nicht entschuldigen, ich bleibe bei jedem Wort, das ich gesagt habe", entgegnete er auf die Forderung, seine lückenlose Beweisführung zu widerrufen. Die Kirchenvertreter drohten, ihn zu verklagen.

Und sie hielten Wort.

Am 10. April ging in einer Mumbaier Polizeiwache eine Anzeige ein wegen "absichtlich böswilligem Verhaltens zwecks Beleidigung religiöser Gefühle". Edamaruku soll nun vor Gericht, die Obrigkeit forderte ihn auf, sich verhaften zu lassen. Bislang ist er dem nicht nachgekommen, bislang zögert die Polizei, ihn festzunehmen.

"Lasst sie mich verhaften, ich werde nicht aufhören meine fundamentale Pflicht zu tun", sagt Edamaruku. Ein Anwalt hat sich inzwischen bereit erklärt, seine Verteidigung zu übernehmen. Und vielleicht hat die Posse für Edamaruku ja doch etwas Gutes: Denn Märtyrertum galt schon immer als größter Beweis geistiger Autorität.

Catholic News Agency report about Sanal Edamaruku Case

http://www.ucanindia.in/news/rationalist-charged-with-blasphemy-over-%E2%80%98miracle-water%E2%80%99-issue/17597/daily


Rationalist charged with blasphemy over ‘miracle water’ issue
He allegedly termed as a “money-making racket” the incident of water seeping out of a crucifix.

Posted on April 22, 2012, 7:40 AM

Pune:
Police have summoned the chief of a rationalist organization for his alleged remarks over the “miracle water” incident in a Mumbai church which hurt the religious sentiments of Catholics in the city.

Sanal Edamaruku, president of Rationalist Association of India, allegedly termed as a “money-making racket” the incident of water seeping out of a crucifix outside the wall of Our Lady of Velankanni Church at Irla, a suburb of Mumbai in western Indian state of Maharashtra.

He made the comments on a TV channel last month after visiting the cross.

A first information report was filed on March 10 and Edamaruku was charged with “deliberately hurting the religious sentiments” of people, Arun Bhagat, senior police inspector of Juhu police station, told ucanews.com today.

Thousands of people, mostly Catholics had thronged the cross on March 5 when the word spread like wild fire that ‘miracle water’ was seeping out of the cross.

“The church has not made any pronouncement on it. There is a lengthy scientific process that has to be undergone before any official pronouncement is made. It is quite possible that the happening may have a totally natural explanation,” Auxiliary Bishop Agnelo Gracias of Bombay Archdiocese told ucanews.com.

“We have never said it was a miracle though the devotees came to pray. But it was sad that it was claimed to be a money-making scam as not a single penny was collected and even those insisting on making donations were told to feed the poor,” said Father Augustine Palett, parish priest of Our Lady of Velankanni Church under whose jurisdiction the event occurred.

The priest said Edamaruku should apologise and the matter will be closed.

The bishop said they resented Edamaruku’s “loose remarks” that the incident was created by priests to make money and that the Catholics worship images and the pope is against science.

Meanwhile, Edamaruku, who has been conducting research on all kinds of miracles for the past 3 decades, told ucanews.com that “I had no malicious intent and was just fulfilling my fundamental duties.”

He said that he saw water oozing out from the statue of Jesus Christ on the boundary wall of the church and collected the water for chemical analysis.

Edamaruku said he saw water seeped out of joints of bricks on the road near the statue. He said it was “dirty water coming out of a washroom and getting logged near the wall behind the statue.”

“I don’t care if I am arrested. I will not even appeal for bail,” said Edamaruku, who was born to a Christian father and a Hindu mother but claims to be an atheist.

Agnelo Fernandes, President of Maharashtra Christian Youth Forum, had filed a complaint against him in the police station.

"SAVE SANAL EDAMARUKU" Protest meeting at KSEB Building, Ernakulam, Kerala.

Blasphemy Law (IPC 295 A) in India: Protecting or Silencing? - Watch a short film by Piush Mishra. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hN_d0G77KF4&fb_source=message

BEASTcast 28: Sanal Edamaruku 

Picture: Sanal Edamaruku during the 1995 national campaign 
against superstitions covering 1000 Indian villages


Posted by Josh Bunting On April - 15 – 2012
Hear an interview with Sanal Edamaruku in The Buffalo Beast

  Reason Under Fire in India

   

WIRED OPINION 

THE AMAZING COLUMN

By James Randi

This week, a change of pace: I’m hoping to enlist the readers of “The Amazing Column” to join me in fighting a ridiculous, archaic attack on reason halfway around the world in India.

In brief: The public assertion that a religious statue isn’t actually crying has put prominent rationalist Sanal Edamaruku in peril. Arrest warrants have been sworn out and Edamaruku could be picked up at any time — merely for stating the obvious, in the world’s most populous democracy.

Sanal Edamaruku

This isn’t about India-bashing — far from it. The contributions of this enormously layered (and oppressed) nation are countless, and indisputable. But the hounding of Edamaruku, at the behest of religious groups using a law that is a remnant of British colonialization, threatens to return their democratic system of justice back to medieval times.

And a man’s liberty, to say the least, hangs in the balance.

Rationalism is no stranger to India. The late Basava Premenand, with whom I shared many personal chats about the “godmen” of India, and Abraham Kovoor, whom I never met but who provided me — and the world — with critiques of those same swindlers, rank high among my heroes.

And now I bring your attention to the peril faced by Edamaruku, who is president of the Indian Rationalist Association, editor of the internet publication Rationalist International, and author of 25 books and numerous articles.

Local representatives of the Catholic Church have filed charges under section 295A of the Indian Penal Code which makes it a crime “to outrage religious feelings or any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs.”

The outrage? The priest of Our Lady of Velankanni Church, and representatives of the piously incensed Association of Concerned Catholics (AOCC) has demanded that Edamaruku publicly apologize for having the audacity to say out loud that water flowing from a statue in their church was a leak in the sewage system and not — as the Indian media and the Church had loudly proclaimed — a miracle.

Edamaruku has flatly refused to surrender to their demands, so they filed a blasphemy case against him. A Mumbai police official directed him to come to the station to face the charges and be arrested. Charges have also been filed in numerous other police stations. He remains at large.

The threat to arrest a well known and dedicated rationalist who has been exposing “miracles” and superstitious beliefs in his own country for more than three decades is a serious attack on freedom of expression, designed to harass and silence him.

Edamaruku has sought to exercise his constitutional right to develop scientific thinking, the spirit of inquiry, reform, and humanism. We at the James Randi Educational Foundation (JREF) firmly support these rights.

We can only imagine the conditions of an Indian jail, and we don’t want our friend to find out.

Edamaruku is in a real jam now, but this is hardly the first time he’s spoken out against belief in miracles. Recently, a wonder-worker named Ajay Kumar Gupta claimed he could cure HIV infection, cancer, tuberculosis or any known disease by splashing the afflicted with a bowl of fresh water. Gupta wanted to prove his claim, so Sanjay introduced him to JREF Million Dollar Paranormal Challenge, and briefed him on the terms and conditions to be found there.

For some reason, we haven’t received an application from Mr. Gupta.

Now, this sort of really silly claim — throwing water to supernaturally cure any ailment — is not at all unusual to us at JREF. We get far stranger notions offered to us, regularly — everything from the ability to locate buried gold, fresh water or oil with a forked willow-branch, to levitating by thought-waves (or, frankly, any which way), are fantasies we must handle. And though we often think that we’ve now “heard everything,” that notion is dashed daily.

Dear reader, I urge you to visit www.rationalistinternational.net and see the way this remarkable man has fought unreason and prejudice in the Indian continent, often at risk of his well-being. I urge you to drop him a note expressing your support and encouragement, and donate to his legal defense fund if you can.

We need to take every opportunity to promote rationality and science in opposition to blind belief and appeals to ghosts …

MUMBAI MIRROR 17 APRIL 2012:
FIR against rationalist for questioning ‘miracle’

Man files complaint against Sanal Edamaruku who dismissed water dripping from Jesus statue as due to capillary action, saying he had made statements against the Church

http://www.mumbaimirror.com/article/2/2012041720120417220221187efd41360/FIR-against-rationalist-for-questioning-%E2%80%98miracle%E2%80%99.html

Mumbai was the birthplace of the Indian Rationalist Association (IRA), founded in 1930 by Mumbaikar R P Paranjpe. Almost a century later, it has also become the first city to have an FIR filed against the President of the IRA.

The FIR has been filed by another Mumbaikar, Agnelo Fernandes, President of the Maharashtra Christian Youth Forum.

CR 61/2012, Juhu Police Station, has been filed against miracle-buster Sanal Edamaruku, who is also founder-president of the Rationalist International, which has scientists such as Richard Dawkins in it.

The FIR has been filed under IPC Sec 295A: Deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs. The offence is cognizable and non-bailable.

The whole story began on March 5, when during a TV programme in Delhi, Sanal dismissed reports that the “dripping cross” outside Vile Parle’s Velankanni church was a miracle. TV-9 asked him to investigate and flew him down on March 10. Sanal visited the spot and took pictures.

Born to rationalist parents, Sanal has, for the last 30 years, travelled across the country demonstrating the science behind supposed miracles. He has exposed the man-made nature of the ‘divine flame’ at Sabarimala, and successfully challenged Hindu godmen on TV.

Later on March 10, Sanal attributed the water dripping from the Jesus statue to capillary action of underground water near the cross. His photographs, displayed on TV-9, showed seepage on the wall behind the cross and on the ground near its base. “I removed one of the stones covering a canal for dirty water nearby, and found that water had been blocked there. Once water is blocked, it will find an outlet, if not downwards, then upwards. Every student knows that trees get water through capillary action.’’

Sanal said that when he reached the spot, a priest was leading a prayer on the road near the cross; water from the cross had been collected in a bucket and was being distributed to those gathered there. He was given a photograph of the statue dripping water with the word ‘miracle’ written on it. He said he was not allowed to take a sample of the water for chemical analysis.

During the subsequent TV discussions in Delhi and Mumbai, Sanal accused the Catholic Church of “miracle mongering’’. Interestingly, in Mumbai, Archbishop Agnelo Gracias, who joined the discussion, categorically stated that the Church had not described the event as a miracle and would do so only after conducting investigations. The Archbishop also claimed that the Church was not anti-science and, in fact, it had established the Pontifical Academy of Sciences, of which Galileo had been a member.

At that point, Sanal pointed out that the Church had imprisoned Galileo, and burnt scientist Giordano Bruno at the stake, and Pope John Paul II had even apologised for it. He also asked the Archbishop what he had to say about the Vatican indulging in exorcism, to which the Archbishop replied that though he had not come across any case of ``possession’’, he could not rule it out.

All through the discussion, the other panelists kept warning Sanal that they would file FIRs against him if he didn’t apologise for his allegations against the Church.

The discussion ended with Sanal declaring that the Church’s intolerance had resulted in the Dark Ages in Europe. “Don’t try to bring the Dark Ages to India,” he said.

Fernandes lodged a complaint against Sanal at Juhu Police Station on April 10. Another complaint was lodged at the MIDC Police Station. In his complaint, Fernandes states that statements made against the Church and the Pope by Sanal had hurt his religious feelings.

Sanal, who lives in Delhi, said, “The Indian Constitution enjoins me to develop scientific temper. Let them arrest me, I’m not going to stop doing my fundamental duty.’’

A Sanal Edamuruku Defence Committee has been convened by lawyer N D Pancholi. Meanwhile, Mumbai police have called him here for questioning.

Sanal Edamaruku Defence Committee
Rationalist International has formed a Sanal Edamaruku Defence Committe. The convener is the well known Human Rights Lawyer and activist Mr. N.D.Pancholi.


If you wish to support us now, you can do it in two ways.
- Spread the videos and the information about the cases where ever you can.
- Support the Defence Fund with a donation. [Click here]

Save Sanal Edamaruku

Report on Paul Kurtz's site:

"Paul Kurtz is a friend of Edamaruku, and defends his right to closely examine paranormal and religious claims."


PARANORMAL INVESTIGATOR THREATENED WITH ARREST IN INDIA


On March 10th, Sanal Edamaruku, President of the Rationalist International, headquartered in India, investigated a reported miracle of a religious nature in Mumbai. Droplets of water were found trickling from the feet of Jesus on a crucifix in front of the Church of Our Lady of Velankanni. Hundreds of people had come to the site to place some of the supposed holy water in bottles and other vessels.


According to Edamaruku, there was no miracle. He said that the water was drained from a source near a washing room, and that the water arrived at Jesus’ feet via a tube. Local church leaders that observed the investigation were angered by Edamaruku’s findings.


Edamaruku explained his findings on a live television program and said that Catholic Church officials were guilty of miracle mongering for claiming that a miracle had occurred. Some religious leaders demanded an apology from Edamaruku for his remarks. The rationalist declined, and some religious leaders brought a blasphemy case against him. The Mumbai police have threatened to arrest him for allegedly offending the religious sensibilities of a religious community.


The Institute for Science and Human Values (ISHV) joins rationalists, humanists, freethinkers and others worldwide in condemning calls for the arrest of Edamaruku. India has a long history of promoting rationalism, good science and secular values. No one should be dissuaded from investigating extraordinary truth claims, especially when such claims could be used to take unfair advantage of poor, desperate and defenseless citizens.


According to Norm Allen Jr., Director of International Outreach for ISHV, “The Institute for Science and Human Values staunchly defends freedom of expression and freedom of inquiry. How can democracy thrive or even survive if these values are trampled underfoot?”


Paul Kurtz,chairman of ISHV, has a positive view of the future. He believes that, despite religious superstition such as that found in India and throughout the globe, human beings will one day be “liberated from the constraints of ancient fears and cowardice….” Kurtz is a friend of Edamaruku, and defends his right to closely examine paranormal and religious claims.


Supporters of Edamaruku have written letters opposing police action against the rationalist to the Home Minister at the Maharastra government in Mumbai, India, and to the Central Minister in Delhi, India. “Together, we can take a stand for reason and true liberty,” Allen said. “We must not allow honest investigations to be hindered by fears of offending people’s religious sensibilities.”

Sanal Edamaruku under attack for exposing Catholic "miracle"

Report in Spanish:  http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/2012/20120410/es_1.html


Report in French: http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/2012/20120410/fr_1.html


Report in Polish: http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/2012/20120410/pl_1.html


Report in Finnish: http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/2012/20120410/fi_1.html


Report in Russian: http://www.rationalistinternational.net/article/2012/20120410/ru_1.html

La Iglesia católica india demanda por blasfemia al descubridor del truco de un Cristo del que manaba agua


2012 ABRIL 16
tags: blasfemia, fraudes, milagros, Sanal Edamaruku

por Luis Alfonso Gámez
La Iglesia católica india ha denunciado al activista escéptico Sanal Edamaruku como autor de un delito de blasfemia por haber acusado a la jerarquía local de estar implicada en el fraude milagrero de un Cristo sangrante. Creyentes a los que se enfrentó en un debate hace unas semanas en el canal TV-9 amenazaron con demandarle por blasfemo si no se retractaba de sus acusaciones y, el martes pasado, la Policía de Bombay le comunicó por teléfono que había sido denunciado.

Edamaruku, presidente de la Asociación Racionalista India, viajó el 10 de marzo a Bombay para investigar por encargo de TV-9 el presunto milagro de un Cristo crucificado uno de cuyos pies goteaba agua. Cientos de feligreses acudían cada día hasta la iglesia de Nuestra Señora de Velankanni, en un subsurbio de Bombay, para rezar ante la estatua y recoger el agua que manaba de ella. El investigador descubrió, como era de esperar, que todo era un fraude. “En pocos minutos, identificó claramente la fuente del agua (una fuga de un baño cercano) y la forma en que llegaba hasta un pie de Jesús (por capilaridad). Las autoridades eclesiásticas locales, presentes durante la investigación, no parecían nada contentas”, se explica en la web de la International Racionalista.

Poco después, Edamaruku mantuvo un acalorado debate televisivo con cinco representantes de la Iglesia católica india, incluido Augustine Palett, párroco de Nuestra Señora de Velankanni, el templo junto al que está la estatua. Este sacerdote y miembros de la Asociación de Católicos Preocupados (AOCC) le exigieron, en un momento dado, que se retractara de las acusaciones de complicidad en el engaño por parte de la Iglesia local, que se había volcado en la publicidad del milagro y había mandado a los medios de fotos que supuestamente lo certificaban. El racionalista indio no lo hizo y ahora se enfrenta a varias demandas por blasfemia.

“Pueden detenerme en cualquier momento. Se han registrado denuncias contra mí en varias comisarías de Bombay, y la Policía ya ha anunciado que va a arrestarme”, ha indicado Edamaruku en un mensaje de correo electrónico dirigido a Richard Dawkins, en el que añade que sólo estaba haciendo ejercicio del derecho fundamental a la libre investigación, consagrado en la Constitución india. “No es nuevo que los obispos traten de sentenciar a sus oponentes a la hoguera cuando se les acaban los argumentos. El caso de Giordano Bruno es un buen ejemplo de ello. Pero, por más que lo intenten, no podrán detenerme en la defensa de la razón, la ciencia y los hechos históricos. Y no estoy solo. La libertad de expresión está bajo ataque ¡y la vamos a defender!”, ha añadido.

La International Racionalista ha abierto un Fondo para la Defensa de Sanal Edamaruku, que les animó a apoyar, así como a difundir este vergonzoso caso de ataque contra la libertad de crítica.

Legislación antiblasfemia, también en España

El artículo 295 del Código Penal indio, al que se han acogido los denunciantes, castiga con prisión a quien ofenda los sentimientos religiosos de otros y forma parte de la abundante legislación antiblasfemia que todavía hay en el mundo, España incluida. En nuestro país, el artículo 525.1 del Código Penal dice que “incurrirán en la pena de multa de ocho a doce meses los que, para ofender los sentimientos de los miembros de una confesión religiosa, hagan públicamente, de palabra, por escrito o mediante cualquier tipo de documento, escarnio de sus dogmas, creencias, ritos o ceremonias, o vejen, también públicamente, a quienes los profesan o practican”. Esta anacrónica norma ha servido a la plataforma integrista HazteOír para denunciar al cantautor Javier Krahe por un cortometraje rodado en 1978 en el que se enseña “cómo cocinar un Cristo”.

Legislaciones antiblasfemia como la india y la española pretenden convertir las creencias religiosas en intocables, inmunes a la crítica, algo impropio de cualquier sociedad democrática. Blasfemar es un derecho; no un pecado ni un delito. Como dice Michael DeDora, director del Center for Inquiry (CfI) en Nueva York, los librepensadores debemos oponernos activamente a este tipo de leyes y presionar a los Gobiernos democráticos para que sean derogadas. Silenciar a las personas para proteger las ideas es medieval, es poner la libertad en manos de los credos. La crítica y la burla de todas las ideas -las nuestras, las primeras- es un derecho al que la sociedad no debe renunciar.

“Las leyes contra la blasfemia y la crítica de las prácticas y dogmas religiosos han tenido a menudo un impacto negativo sobre el progreso social y científico. Esta situación empezó a cambiar con la Ilustración”, dictaminó en junio de 2006 el Consejo de Europa, integrado por 46 países y 800 millones de europeos, para el que la libertad de expresión “no debe restringirse más para responder a la creciente sensibilidad de algunos grupos religiosos”, como sucede en India y España, entre otros países.

Le dejo con el acalorado debate entre los defensores de la Iglesia católica india y Sanal Edamaruku:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfJ6_ftih0s

India: "miracle" unmasked, believers applied


Blasphemy allegations, ads and warrant to disenchantment with apparent surprise in a Catholic temple.

Religion - The Indian civil rights Sanal Edamaruku, president of the Indian Rationalist Association , sees itself now "blasphemy" charges exposed. They say he could be arrested at any moment. The reason: He recently revealed a "miracle" in the supposedly holy water from the foot of a crucifix in front of the statue of the Roman Catholic "Basilica of Our Lady of Velankanni good" dripping. The temple near the southern tip of India, a so-called apparitions is dedicated to is called the "Lourdes of the East" and is visited annually by more than two million pilgrims.

Before long while, sometimes a little water from the foot began to drip the Jesus statue. The news spread like wildfire among the population and thousands of believers made pilgrimages to the Basilica, at this point of view of their "sacred liquid" collected in containers.

Sanal Edamaruku finally demystified the supposed miracle in mid-March 2012 in full public view, in which he demonstrated in front of TV cameras, a leak in the sewer system as the cause. Through the capillary effect, the water got into the character, which is then exited at another point. A big disappointment for the faithful, but an even bigger for the representatives of the Church.

Controversial and sensitive it was, as Sanal Edamaruku put on television during a discussion with three Catholic church leaders alleged that the church is the invention of "miracles" and pursuing markets also through massive PR campaigns. The church leaders called for Edamaruku to suggest to retract his statements and apologize. This, however, remained in his position, after which the believers so that it threatened to denounce him for "blasphemy". .

For this purpose it has come too, because so far, three lawsuits against Sanal Edamaruku be received at various police stations, aiming at his conviction under the Indian Penal Code. Two days ago, received Sanal Edamaruku a corresponding call in which he urged the police to the show, so that he may be confronted with the allegations and arrested. Rationalist International has now, therefore, the lawyers and human rights experts ND Pancholi responsible for its defense. More information about the case, the website of Rationalist International are available

Support Sanal Edamaruku meeting at Ernakulam on 19 April 2012

Berlitharangal - Malayalam blog
http://berlytharangal.com/?p=9196


അവനെ ക്രൂശിക്കരുത് !

ദൈവം സ്നേഹമാകുന്നു എന്നാണ് ദൈവം തന്നെ ദൈവത്തെപ്പറ്റി പറഞ്ഞിരിക്കുന്നത്.ഇത്ര സിംപിളായ ഒരു നിര്‍വചനം ആളുകളെ സ്നേഹം എന്ന അധമവികാരത്തിന്റെ പിന്നാലെ പോകാന്‍ പ്രേരിപ്പിക്കുമോ എന്നു ഭയന്നാവണം മതനേതാക്കന്മാര്‍ ദൈവത്തെ ദേവാലയങ്ങളില്‍ പൂട്ടിയിട്ട് പുതിയ നിര്‍വചനങ്ങളുണ്ടാക്കി. ദൈവം ഭീകരനാണെന്ന് വിശ്വാസികളെ ധരിപ്പിച്ചു. വൈദികരെയും മതനേതാക്കളെയും ബഹുമാനിക്കുകയും അനുസരിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യാത്തവരെ ക്രൂരമായി ശിക്ഷിക്കുന്ന മനസാക്ഷിയില്ലാത്ത ഗുണ്ടയുടെ ഇമേജ് ദൈവത്തിനു കല്‍പിച്ചു നല്‍കി.

ശരാശരി ക്രിസ്‍ത്യാനിയെ വിസ്മയിപ്പിക്കുന്നത് വെള്ളം വീഞ്ഞാക്കുകയും അന്ധന് കാഴ്ച കൊടുക്കുകയും മരിച്ചവരില്‍ നിന്ന് ഉയിര്‍ത്തെഴുന്നേല്‍ക്കുകയും ചെയ്ത അതിമാനുഷനായ ക്രിസ്‍തുവാണെങ്കില്‍ എന്നെപ്പോലുള്ള പാപികള്‍ക്ക് ജീവിതത്തില്‍ പ്രതീക്ഷ നല്‍കുന്നത്, ബലിയല്ല കരുണയാണ് ഞാനാഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നത് എന്നു പറയുന്ന ക്രിസ്തുവാണ്. അനാശാസ്യമാരോപിച്ച് സ്ത്രീയെ കല്ലെറിഞ്ഞ സദാചാര പൊലീസിനോട് നിങ്ങളില്‍ പാപം ചെയ്യാത്തവര്‍ ഇവളെ കല്ലെറിയട്ടെ എന്നു 2000 വര്‍ഷം മുമ്പ് പറഞ്ഞ ക്രിസ്തുവാണ് എന്നെ വിസ്മയിപ്പിക്കുന്നത്. ആ ക്രിസ്തു, ഗോപിനാഥ് മുതുകാട് അനായാസം ചെയ്യുന്ന ചെപ്പടിവിദ്യകള്‍ കൊണ്ട് വിശ്വാസികളെ ആകര്‍ഷിക്കുമെന്ന് വിശ്വസിക്കാന്‍ എനിക്കു പ്രയാസമുണ്ട്. സ്നേഹമെന്ന ദൈവത്തെ കാട്ടിക്കൊടുത്ത ക്രിസ്തുവിന്റെ പ്രതിമകളുണ്ടാക്കി ആ പ്രതിമകളില്‍ നിന്നുള്ള അടയാളങ്ങളെ ആരാധിക്കുകയും പ്രഘോഷിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യുന്നത് ക്രിസ്തുവിനോടും ക്രിസ്ത്യാനികളോടും സമൂഹത്തോടും കാലത്തോടുമുള്ള വഞ്ചനയാണ്, ചൂഷണമാണ്.

ചോര ചിന്തുന്ന, കണ്ണീരൊഴുക്കുന്ന, സുഗന്ധം വമിക്കുന്ന പ്രതിമകളുടെയും രൂപങ്ങളുടെയും പിന്നാലെ ഭക്തിഭ്രാന്തമായ മനസ്സോടെ ക്രിസ്‍ത്യാനികള്‍ പാഞ്ഞുതുടങ്ങിയിട്ട് കാലം കുറെയായി. പഞ്ചായത്തില്‍ ഒന്ന് കണക്കില്‍ ഇത്തരത്തിലുള്ള ലോക്കല്‍ ദൈവസ്ഥാനങ്ങള്‍ ഇന്നുണ്ട്. ചുറ്റുപാടുമുള്ളവര്‍ വരുന്നു, നേര്‍ച്ചയിടുന്നു, അലമുറയിട്ട് പ്രാര്‍ഥിക്കുന്നു, അകാരണമായി കരഞ്ഞുകൊണ്ട് മടങ്ങുന്നു. ഇതിന്റെ യുക്തി എനിക്കിതുവരെ മനസ്സിലായിട്ടില്ല.സൂര്യചന്ദ്രന്മാരെയും നൂറായിരം ഗ്രഹങ്ങളെയും മുപ്പത്തിമുക്കോടി നക്ഷത്രങ്ങളെയും സൃഷ്ടിച്ച് മാനേജ് ചെയ്യുന്ന അതിശക്തനായ ദൈവം തന്റെ സാന്നിധ്യമറിയിക്കാന്‍ ഇത്തരം ലോ ക്ലാസ് മാജിക്കുകള്‍ കാണിക്കുമോ എന്ന ചോദ്യത്തിന് ഉത്തരമില്ല. അസാധാരണമായി കാണുന്നതെല്ലാം ദൈവികമാണെന്നു പ്രഖ്യാപിച്ച് നേര്‍ച്ചപ്പെട്ടി സ്ഥാപിക്കുന്നവര്‍ അധിക്ഷേപിക്കുന്നത് വിശ്വാസത്തെയാണ് എന്നു ഞാന്‍ വിശ്വസിക്കുന്നു.

ഈ തരത്തിലുള്ള ലേറ്റസ്റ്റ് ദിവ്യാദ്ഭുതങ്ങളിലൊരെണ്ണം ലോലമനസ്കരായ വിശ്വാസികളെ ചൂഷണം ചെയ്യുന്നതിനു വേണ്ടി വൈദികര്‍ ലാഘവത്തോടെ നടത്തിവന്നതാണെന്ന് തെളിയിച്ച യുക്തിവാദി സംഘം നേതാവ് സനല്‍ ഇടമറുകിനെതിരേ മതനിന്ദയുടെ പേരില്‍ കേസ് റജിസ്റ്റര്‍ ചെയ്തിരിക്കുകയാണ് മുംബൈ പൊലീസ്. യുക്തിരഹിതമായ ഒരാചാരത്തിനു കൂട്ടുനിന്ന പുരോഹിതന്മാരാണ് സത്യത്തില്‍ മതനിന്ദ നടത്തിയതെന്നു ഞാന്‍ വിശ്വസിക്കുന്നു.

മുംബൈയിലെ വിലെ പാര്‍ലെ പള്ളിയിലെ ക്രൂശിതരൂപത്തില്‍ നിന്ന് അദ്ഭുതജലം ഒഴുകിയത് കണ്ടാണ് വിശ്വാസികള്‍ അവിടമൊരു തീര്‍ഥാടനകേന്ദ്രമാക്കിയത്. വിലെ പാര്‍ലെ പള്ളി വന്‍ തീര്‍ത്ഥാടന കേന്ദ്രമായി മാറിക്കൊണ്ടിരിക്കുന്നതിനെ തുടര്‍ന്ന് ടിവി 9 ചാനല്‍ ഒരു അന്വേഷണാത്മക പരിപാടിയുമായി എത്തുകയും ക്രൂശിത രൂപത്തിനടുത്തുള്ള ഓവു ചാലില്‍ നിന്നുള്ള വെള്ളമാണ് ‘കാപ്പില്ലറി ബല’ത്താല്‍ ക്രൂശിത രൂപത്തിന്റെ കാലിലൂടെ വരുന്നതെന്ന സനല്‍ തെളിയിക്കുകയായിരുന്നു.

ദിവ്യാത്ഭുതത്തെ പറ്റി കൂടുതല്‍ ചര്‍ച്ച ചെയ്യുന്നതിന് ചാനല്‍ ഒരുക്കിയ പരിപാടിയില്‍ പള്ളി വികാരി ഫാദര്‍ അഗസ്റ്റിന്‍ പാലേട്ട്, വിവിധ ക്രിസ്ത്യന്‍ സംഘടകനളുടെ പ്രതിനിധികള്‍ എന്നിവരും സനലും പങ്കെടുക്കുകയും സനല്‍ ദിവ്യാത്ഭുതം തട്ടിപ്പാണെന്ന് തെളിയിക്കുകയും ചെയ്തു. ചര്‍ച്ചയില്‍ സനല്‍ നടത്തിയ ചില പരാമര്‍ശങ്ങള്‍ മതനിന്ദയാണെന്നും സനല്‍ മാപ്പ് പറയണമെന്നും ചര്‍ച്ചയില്‍ പങ്കെടുത്ത പള്ളി വികാരിയും കൂട്ടരും ആവശ്യപ്പെട്ടു. സനലിനെതിരെ മതനിന്ദയ്ക്ക് കേസ് കൊടുക്കുമെന്ന് ചാനല്‍ ചര്‍ച്ചയ്ക്കിടെ ക്രിസ്ത്യന്‍ സംഘടനാംഗങ്ങള്‍ ഭീഷണിപ്പെടുത്തുകയും സനലിനെതിരെ മൂന്ന് പരാതികള്‍ നല്‍കുകയും അതിന്റെ അടിസ്ഥാനത്തില്‍ അദ്ദേഹത്തെ ചോദ്യം ചെയ്യാന്‍ വിളിപ്പിച്ചിരിക്കുകയാണ്.

ക്രിസ്തുവില്‍ വിശ്വസിക്കുന്ന, ക്രിസ്തുവില്‍ ജീവിക്കുന്ന, ഒരിക്കലും ഷെവലിയാര്‍ പട്ടം കിട്ടാന്‍ സാധ്യതയില്ലാത്ത ക്രിസ്ത്യാനി എന്ന നിലയില്‍, വിലെ പാര്‍ലെ പള്ളി സനലിനോട് ചെയ്യുന്നത് മഹാപാപമാണ് എന്നു വിളിച്ചുപറയാന്‍ ഞാനാഗ്രഹിക്കുന്നു. എത്രയും വേഗം കേസുകള്‍ പിന്‍വലിച്ച് സനലിനോട് മാപ്പു പറയുകയും ഇത്തരം ഉഡായ്‍പുകള്‍ നിരോധിക്കുകയും ചെയ്യാനുള്ള ക്രിസ്‍തീയമായ ആര്‍ജ്ജവമാണ് പള്ളി പ്രതിനിധികള്‍ കാണിക്കേണ്ടത്. ഒരു വിഡ്ഡിത്തം തെളിയിച്ച യുക്തിവാദിയെ കേസില്‍ കുടുക്കുക എന്നത് അങ്ങേയറ്റം ലജ്ജാകരമാണ്. സത്യം പ്രഘോഷിക്കാന്‍ ആഹ്വാനം ചെയ്ത ക്രിസ്തുവിന്റെ അനുയായികള്‍ സത്യം തെളിയിച്ചവനെ തുറുങ്കിലടയ്‍ക്കാന്‍ വെമ്പുന്നത് ആശങ്കാജനകമാണ്.

ജനാധിപത്യ ഇന്ത്യയില്‍ ഒരിക്കലും സംഭവിച്ചുകൂടാത്തതാണ് സനലിന്റെ അറസ്റ്റ്. അങ്ങനൊരു തെറ്റ് സംഭവിക്കാതിരിക്കാന്‍ സത്യത്തോടൊപ്പം ഉറച്ചു നില്‍ക്കുന്ന ആ മനുഷ്യനെ പിന്തുണയ്‍ക്കുക, കരുത്തു പകരുക.തന്റെ പേരില്‍ നടന്ന തട്ടിപ്പ് അവസാനിപ്പിച്ച സനലിനെ കര്‍ത്താവ് സമൃദ്ധമായി അനുഗ്രഹിക്കട്ടെ.

ഈ ലിങ്കുകള്‍ കൂടി പരിശോധിക്കുക

1. ടിവി 9 വാര്‍ത്ത (വിഡിയോ)
2. ടിവി 9 ചര്‍ച്ച (വിഡിയോ)
3. സപ്പോര്‍ട്ട് സനല്‍ ഇടമറുക് (ബ്ലോഗ്)
4. സനല്‍ ഇടമറുക് (ഫേസ്‍ബുക്ക്)

Save Sanal Poster

Statement by Malayalam authors Anand, Paul Zakaria, Dr.B.Iqbal, CR Parameswaran, K Venu,  Hameed Chandamangaloor, KEN Kunhahamed, K Aravindakshan.


മുംബൈയില്‍ ഒരു പള്ളിക്ക് മുന്‍പിലുള്ള ക്രിസ്തുവിന്റെ പ്രതിമയില്‍ നിന്ന്‌ ജലം ഒഴുകുന്നു എന്ന 'ദിവ്യാദ്ഭുതം' കേവലം ഒരു ഭൌതിക പ്രതിഭാസമാണെന്ന് തെളിയിക്കുകയും തദനനന്തരം നടന്ന ചര്‍ച്ചയില്‍ 'ദിവ്യാദ്ഭുതങ്ങള്‍ ' വില്പ്പനച്ചരക്കാക്കുന്ന മതമേധാവികളെ വിമര്‍ശിക്കുകയും ചെയ്ത സനല്‍ ഇടമറുകിനെതിരെ ഇന്ത്യന്‍ ശിക്ഷാനിയമം 295 A പ്രകാരം നിയമ നടപടികള്‍ എടുക്കുവാനുള്ള ശ്രമത്തെ ഞങ്ങള്‍ അപലപിക്കുന്നു.

ബ്രിട്ടീഷ് ഭരണത്തിന്റെ അവശിഷ്ടമായി ഇന്ത്യ, പാകിസ്ഥാന്‍ , ബംഗ്ളാദേശ് എന്നിവിടങ്ങളില്‍ നില നില്‍ക്കുന്ന ഈ പഴഞ്ചന്‍ നിയമം ഇന്ത്യന്‍ ഭരണഘടന ഉറപ്പു നല്‍കുന്ന അഭിപ്രായ സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യത്തെ തന്നെ നിഷേധിക്കുന്നതാണ് എന്നുള്ള വസ്തുത പ്രമുഖ നിയമ വിദഗ്ധര്‍ ചൂണ്ടിക്കാട്ടിയിട്ടുണ്ട്. ശാസ്ത്രീയ ചിന്താരീതിയും അന്വേഷണ ത്വരയും വികസിപ്പിക്കുക എന്നത് ഒരു ഇന്ത്യന്‍ പൌരന്റെ അടിസ്ഥാന കടമകളില്‍ ഒന്നായാണ് ഭരണഘടന വിഭാവനം ചെയ്യുന്നത് ( ആര്‍ട്ടിക്കിള്‍ 51 A ) .ഈ വിധമുള്ള പൌര ധര്‍മ നിര്‍വഹണത്തിന് മുതിരുന്നവരെ ജയിലില്‍ അടക്കാന്‍ ശ്രമിക്കുന്നത് ജനാധിപത്യ നിഷേധമാണ്.

രാഷ്ട്രീയം, സമ്പദ് വ്യവസ്ഥ തുടങ്ങിയ ആശയ മണ്ഡലങ്ങളില്‍ നിന്ന്‌ വ്യത്യസ്തമായി, മതത്തിന്റെ കാര്യത്തില്‍ മാത്രം വ്യത്യസ്ത അഭിപ്രായങ്ങള്‍ പറയാനും എതിരഭിപ്രായങ്ങളെ വിമര്‍ശിക്കാനും സ്വാതന്ത്ര്യമില്ലെന്ന് വരുന്നത് ജനാധിപത്യ വ്യവസ്ഥക്ക് ചേരുന്നതല്ല. സനല്‍ ഇടമറുകിനെതിരെ ഉയര്‍ന്നിരിക്കുന്ന ഭീഷണിയുടെ പശ്ചാത്തലത്തില്‍ ഈ വൈരുധ്യം കേരളീയ സമൂഹം വിപുലമായി ചര്‍ച്ച ചെയ്യുമെന്ന് ഞങ്ങള്‍ പ്രത്യാശിക്കുന്നു.

ആനന്ദ് .
സക്കറിയ
ഡോ. ബി. ഇക്ബാല്‍
സി.ആര്‍ . പരമേശ്വരന്‍
കെ.വേണു. -
ഹമീദ് ചേന്ദമംഗലൂര്‍
കെ.ഇ. എന്‍ കുഞ്ഞഹമ്മദ്.
കെ. അരവിന്ദാക്ഷന്‍

Letter from Levi Fragell, former President, IHEU

Dear Sanal,

I strongly support you and of course I join the committee. I was informed by Babu early this morning, and found Mr. Inniaha`s message on Facebook as well. I have also informed the Norwegian leaders.

Levi

Update on RichardDawkins.net: Sanal Edamaruku under attack for exposing Catholic "miracle"



Update 14 April from e-mail to Richard Dawkins


"Today, I turn to you in an extraordinary situation. Agents of the Catholic Church have filed an array of "Blasphemy cases" (u/s 295 of Indian Penal Code) against me as I exposed the "miracle" of the drippling Jesus of Mumbai and triumphing in a TV debate over local church leaders and the Bishop. It's a stage managed game, designed to harass and to silence me.


I may be arrested any moment. Complaints against me are registered in several police stations in Mumbai and the Mumbai police has already announced that they want to arrest me. I have been clearly exercising my Fundamental Duty enshrined in the Indian Constitution to develop scientific temper, spirit of inquiry, reform and humanism.


I request you as a reputed champion of reason and freedom of expression to lend us moral support in our fight. I invite you to formally join the "Sanal Edamaruku Defence Committee" that has be convened by the respected Human Rights lawyer and activist N D Pancholi at Delhi. 

Best Regards,

Sanal

Sanal Edamaruku Defence Committee


Rationalist International has formed a Sanal Edamaruku Defence Committe. The convener is the well known Human Rights Lawyer and activist Mr. N.D.Pancholi. If you wish to support us now, you can do it in two ways.


Spread the videos and the information about the cases where ever you can.


Support the Defence Fund with a donation. [Click here]


As he exposed the “miracle” of the drippling Jesus in Mumbai, revengeful Catholic Church leaders vow to harass Sanal Edamaruku with an array of blasphemy cases. The harassment has started. Sanal can be arrested any moment.

“It is nothing new that the Catholic bishops try to sentence their opponents to the stake when they run out of arguments. Giordano Bruno’s is a case in point. But try as they may, they cannot stop me to stand for reason, science and historic facts. And I am not alone. Freedom of expression is under attack and we are going to defend it!”
-Sanal Edamaruku

Exposing the “miracle”

On 10th March, Sanal Edamaruku flew to Mumbai. The TV channel TV-9 had invited him to investigate a “miracle” that caused local excitement. He went with the TV team to Irla in Vile Parle to inspect the crucifix standing there in front of the Church of Our Lady of Velankanni. This crucifix had become the centre of attraction for an ever growing crowd of believers coming from far and wide. The news of the miracle spread like wild fire. For some days, there were little droplets of water trickling from Jesus’ feet. Hundreds of people came every day to pray and collect some of the “holy water” in bottles and vessels. Irla was about to become a pilgrimage centre. But Sanal Edamaruku spoilt this prospect. Within minutes, he clearly identified the source of the water (a drainage near a washing room) and the mechanism how it reached Jesus feet (capillary action). The local church leaders, present during his investigation, were far from pleased. See the investigation in detail on YouTube.

Save Sanal Edamaruku meeting at Ernakulam on 19 April 2012

Support Sanal Edamaruku poster-3

Save Sanal Edamaruku Poster-2

Indian Skeptic Faces Arrest for Debunking Catholic ‘Miracle’

April 17, 2012 at 10:31 am  Ed Brayton


http://freethoughtblogs.com/dispatches/2012/04/17/indian-skeptic-faces-arrest-for-debunking-catholic-miracle/

Here’s another reason to love the First Amendment. Sanal Edamaruku, president of Rational International, faces possible arrest in India after he debunked a ‘miracle’ at a Catholic church in that country, where a statue of Jesus had water dripping from its feet. Stephen Law has a letter from the organization explaining what happened:

Dear friends,

On 10th March, Sanal Edamaruku, President of the Rationalist International, flew to Mumbai. The TV channel TV-9 had invited him to investigate a “miracle” that caused local excitement. He went with the TV team to Irla in Vile Parle to inspect the crucifix standing there in front of the Church of Our Lady of Velankanni. This crucifix had become the centre of attraction for an ever growing crowd of believers coming from far and wide. The news of the miracle spread like wild fire. For some days, there were little droplets of water trickling from Jesus’ feet. Hundreds of people came every day to pray and collect some of the “holy water” in bottles and vessels. Sanal Edamaruku identified the source of the water (a drainage near a washing room) and the mechanism how it reached Jesus feet (capillary action). The local church leaders, present during his investigation, appeared to be displeased. See the investigation in detail on YouTube

Some hours later, in a live program on TV-9, Sanal explained his findings and accused the concerned Catholic Church officials of miracle mongering, as they were beating the big drum for the drippling Jesus statue with aggressive PR measures and by distributing photographs certifying the “miracle”. A heated debate began, in which the five church people, among them Fr. Augustine Palett, the priest of Our Lady of Velankanni church, and representatives of the Association of Concerned Catholics (AOCC) demanded that Sanal apologize. But Sanal refused and argued against them. [The whole TV program is recorded. You can watch an abridged version of it on YouTube.]

When they saw Sanal refused to bow to their demands, they threatened to file a blasphemy case against him. And they did.

Yesterday (10th April,2012) Sanal received a phone call from a Police official of Juhu Police Station in Mumbai directing him to come to the said police station to face the charges and get arrested. He also said that FIRs have also been filed in Andheri and some other police stations u/s 295 of Indian Penal Code on the allegations of hurting the religious sentiments of a particular community. Mumbai police has announced that they were out to arrest him. It is apprehended that he can be arrested any moment.

The filing of FIRs by Mumbai police and threatening to arrest a well known rationalist who has been exposing miracles and superstitious beliefs for more than three decades is a serious attack on the freedom of expression. Clause (h) of Article 51-A of Constitution of India states that :

‘It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to develop the scientific temper, humanism and spirit of inquiry and reform.’

In exposing the said miracle, Sanal was performing his fundamental duty enshrined in our constitution.

It is distressing that the Mumbai police has chosen to harass and victimize him for doing his fundamental duty.

‘Sanal Edamaruku Defence Committee’ appeals to all progressive individuals and organizations to protest and oppose the reprehensible steps of the Maharashtra police in filing FIRs against Sanal and stand behind him in solidarity for the cause of scientific thinking and freedom of expression.

N.D.Pancholi

11 April, 2012 Convenor,

Sanal Edamaruku Defence Committee

PS. Please have a look at ‘www.rationalistinternational.net’.

This is appalling, needless to say, and unfathomable to me. Can you imagine Peter Popoff being able to file charges against James Randi for offending his religious sensibilities by exposing him as a fraud? This is the problem with all laws against “defamation of religion” or “offending” anyone’s religion.

Letter from ND Pancholi, convener, Sanal Edamaruku Defence Committee


‘FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION UNDER ATTACK’
Sanal Edamaruku, well known rationalist,  under threat  of arrest for exposing the  “miracle”

Dear friends,

On 10th March, Sanal Edamaruku, President of the Rationalist International,   flew to Mumbai. The TV channel TV-9 had invited him to investigate a “miracle” that caused local excitement. He went with the TV team to Irla in Vile Parle to inspect the crucifix standing there in front of the Church of Our Lady of Velankanni. This crucifix had become the centre of attraction for an ever growing crowd of believers coming from far and wide. The news of the miracle spread like wild fire. For some days, there were little droplets of water trickling from Jesus’ feet. Hundreds of people came every day to pray and collect some of the “holy water” in bottles and vessels.  Sanal Edamaruku identified the source of the water (a drainage near a washing room) and the mechanism how it reached Jesus feet (capillary action). The local church leaders, present during his investigation,  appeared to be  displeased.  See the investigation in detail on YouTube.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kUqhq9MuRG8

Some hours later, in a live program on TV-9, Sanal explained his findings and accused the concerned  Catholic Church officials  of miracle mongering, as they were beating the big drum for the drippling Jesus statue with aggressive PR measures and by distributing photographs certifying the “miracle”. A heated debate began, in which the five church people, among them Fr. Augustine Palett, the priest of Our Lady of Velankanni church, and representatives of the Association of Concerned Catholics (AOCC) demanded that Sanal apologize. But Sanal refused  and argued against them. [The whole TV program is recorded. You can watch an abridged version of it on YouTube.http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TfJ6_ftih0s

When they saw  Sanal  refused to bow to their demands, they  threatened to file a blasphemy case against him. And they did.

Yesterday (10th April,2012)  Sanal received a phone call from a Police official  of Juhu Police Station in Mumbai directing him to come to the said police station to face the charges and get arrested. He also said that FIRs have also been filed in Andheri  and some other police stations u/s 295 of Indian Penal Code  on the allegations of hurting the religious sentiments of a particular community.  Mumbai police  has announced that they were out to arrest him.   It is apprehended  that  he  can be arrested any moment.

      The filing of FIRs by Mumbai police and threatening to arrest a well known rationalist who has been exposing miracles and superstitious beliefs  for more than  three decades is a serious attack on the freedom of expression. Clause (h) of Article 51-A of  Constitution of India states that : ‘It shall be the duty of every citizen of India to develop the scientific temper, humanism and spirit of inquiry and reform.’

      In exposing the said miracle, Sanal was performing his fundamental duty enshrined in our constitution.
It is distressing that the Mumbai police has chosen to harass and victimize him for doing his fundamental  duty.

      ‘Sanal Edamaruku Defence Committee’ appeals to all progressive individuals and  organizations  to protest and oppose the reprehensible steps of the Maharashtra police in filing FIRs against Sanal and stand behind him in solidarity for the cause of  scientific thinking and freedom of expression.

                                                                                                        N.D.Pancholi
     11 April, 2012                                                                     Convenor,
                                                                                                        Sanal Edamaruku Defence Committee
PS. Please have a look at www.rationalistinternational.net.

Indian skeptic charged with "blasphemy" for revealing secret behind "miracle" of weeping cross

By Cory Doctorow at 9:12 am Friday, Apr 13

http://boingboing.net/2012/04/13/indian-skeptic-charged-with.html

Sanal Edamaruku, an Indian skeptic, went to Mumbai and revealed that a "miraculous" weeping cross was really just a bit of statuary located near a leaky drain whose liquid reached it by way of capillary action. The local Catholic Church demanded that he retract his statements, and when he refused, they had him arrested for blasphemy.

On 10th March, Sanal Edamaruku, President of the Rationalist International, flew to Mumbai. The TV channel TV-9 had invited him to investigate a “miracle” that caused local excitement. He went with the TV team to Irla in Vile Parle to inspect the crucifix standing there in front of the Church of Our Lady of Velankanni. This crucifix had become the centre of attraction for an ever growing crowd of believers coming from far and wide. The news of the miracle spread like wild fire. For some days, there were little droplets of water trickling from Jesus’ feet. Hundreds of people came every day to pray and collect some of the “holy water” in bottles and vessels. Sanal Edamaruku identified the source of the water (a drainage near a washing room) and the mechanism how it reached Jesus feet (capillary action). The local church leaders, present during his investigation, appeared to be displeased.

Some hours later, in a live program on TV-9, Sanal explained his findings and accused the concerned Catholic Church officials of miracle mongering, as they were beating the big drum for the drippling Jesus statue with aggressive PR measures and by distributing photographs certifying the “miracle”. A heated debate began, in which the five church people, among them Fr. Augustine Palett, the priest of Our Lady of Velankanni church, and representatives of the Association of Concerned Catholics (AOCC) demanded that Sanal apologize. But Sanal refused and argued against them. [The whole TV program is recorded. You can watch an abridged version of it on YouTube.]

When they saw Sanal refused to bow to their demands, they threatened to file a blasphemy case against him. And they did. Yesterday (10th April,2012) Sanal received a phone call from a Police official of Juhu Police Station in Mumbai directing him to come to the said police station to face the charges and get arrested. He also said that FIRs have also been filed in Andheri and some other police stations u/s 295 of Indian Penal Code on the allegations of hurting the religious sentiments of a particular community. Mumbai police has announced that they were out to arrest him. It is apprehended that he can be arrested any moment.