By Matters India Reporter

Kochi, Feb 2, 2023: Church leaders in Kerala have demanded stringent action against a Muslim who was arrested for allegedly burning a copy of the Bible and uploading its footage on the internet.

The Kerala police on January 31 arrested Mohammed Mustafa, a resident of Kasargod district after a video went viral. He claimed that the action was in retaliation to the burning of the Quran in Sweden recently.

The Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) on February 2 deplored the incident and said it was “a deliberate attempt to disturb communal peace and harmony in society.”

“The Christian community always ignores such provocative actions and tries to live in peace and harmony,” the council said in a statement.

KCBC spokesperson Father Jacob G Palakkappilly told Matters India, “It is the duty of the government to ensure that none is allowed to play with the religious sentiments of anyone.”

“The government should protect the religious rights of every citizen as is in the case of protecting life and wealth,” the priest asserted.

Father Palakkappilly also appealed everyone to ensure that no one is allowed to disturb communal peace by hurting the religious sentiments of people beof any religion.

The arrested man was seen in the footage burning a Malayalam language copy of the Bible.

He first tried to set the Bible on fire after pouring an oil like substance on it, but when he failed he switched on a gas stove and burnt the Bible on it.

The man was also heard saying that he took this step in retaliation to the Sweden incident in January.

A far-right Danish politician Rasmus Paludan reportedly burnt a copy of the Quran outside Turkish embassy in Stockholm.

Enraged Muslims in many parts of the world protested the incident.

Father Palakkappilly said Mustafa had removed statues of Baby Jesus and others from a crib in a government hospital last Christmas, but “we ignored it.”

The priest also dismissed some reports claiming that the accused was insane as an attempt to save him from punishment. He appealed the government to ensure the accused received the maximum punishment and sent warning to those trying to hurt the religious sentiments of others.

Meanwhile, the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Commission for Social Harmony and Vigilance condemned the incident and called for stringent action against the offender.

Father Michael Pulickal, the commission secretary, in a statement on January 31 termed the incident as a “very painful thing for Christians across the globe.”

The Carmelite of Mary Immaculate priest also questioned the silence of political, intellectual and religious leaders over such a communal act and appealed everyone to isolate those who disturb peace in society.

Christians form 18.38 percent of Kerala’s 33 million people and come third after Hindus, 54.56 percent, and Muslims 26.56 percent.