By Matters India Reporter
New Delhi, May 29, 2020: The Supreme Court of Nepal has refused bail to a pastor who was arrested two months ago for allegedly spreading false information about the Covid-19 pandemic.
The arrest of Pastor Keshav Acharya “has become a sensitive issue even among Christians,” says Chirendra Satyal, a leading Catholic lay leader in Nepal. “Christians of all denominations accept that the pastor was arrested because of his religion,” the Kathmandu-based veteran journalist told Matters India through email on May 29.
Police in Kaski district arrested Pastor Acharya on March 23 after accusing him of allegedly spreading false information about the Covid-19 pandemic. The police action came after social media circulated a video showing him pray against the Covid-19 virus.
On May 27, Nepal’s apex court denied bail to the 32-year-old pastor and sent him back to prison to stand trial, the Persecution Relief reported quoting Morning Star News, which studied the controversial video.
Nepal Christian Society executive sectary Pastor Mukunda Sharma regretted the apex court decision. “From this unjust move, a terrible precedent is established, not only against Pastor Acharya, but against all Christians,” the Christian leader said and added that, “The judicial procedure today has overruled all the facts and legal/constitutional provisions and has violated the freedom of religion.”
In the controversial video, Pastor Acharya prays in front of his congregation, saying, “Hey, corona – you go and die. May all your deeds be destroyed by the power of the Lord Jesus. I rebuke you, corona, in the name of Lord Jesus Christ. By the power or the ruler of this Creation, I rebuke you… By the power in the name of Lord Jesus Christ, corona, go away and die.”
Sharma says the Senior Superintendent of Police released a memo four days after the pastor’s arrest, stating that he was spreading false propagation about Covid-19. The District Court then ordered the pastor to pay a 5,000 Nepali rupee (US$40) fine. The pastor had spent more than two weeks in jail by then.
The police then filed another case accusing the pastor of violating some provisions of the country’s Penal Code. Following this, bail was set at 500,000 rupees (US$4,083).
Prior to the Supreme Court hearing, the Kaski District police transferred Pastor Acharya to Dolpa jail in the mountains, inaccessible by motor vehicles.
Satyal says Pastor Acharya was not known among the Catholic circles until his arrest. According to him, the controversial video was filmed much before Nepal imposed nationwide lockdown to contain the coronavirus epidemic.
Hindu radicals then circulated the video saying the pastor was spreading false claims that Jesus would cure Covid-19. According to them, this amounted to misleading simple people who would lose their lives trusting religion only.
“So with political backing they actually arrested him by taking police to his residence,” Satyal explained.
The Catholic leader quoted some Christians as saying that the pastor was “a bit too theatrical in his sermons and healing sessions.”
The video has led to standup comedians lampooning the pastor.
One popular comedian joked about it indirectly by waving a handkerchief and imitating the pastor saying “leave right now Corona.” Many mini videos have been posted in social media saying “leave right now,” waving handkerchief like the pastor did in the original video. Sometimes these mimics even say “in the name of Jesus, Satyal explained.