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Life of Indian atheist in danger!

Article Excerpt
As this magazine was about to go to press, it was learned that renowned Indian skeptic Sreeni Pattathanam is in grave danger. Famous for his debunking of the miracles of various 'godmen' and other fakirs given to fakery, it seems he went a bit too far when he exposed the frauds of a popular godwoman. Matha ('Mother') Amritanandamayi. When his expose was published in the Malayalam language, it might have been supposed that the authorities of the Indian state of Kerala would have opened an inquest into the evidence supporting his claims. Instead, the Chief minister of Kerala, A.K. Antony, initiated moves to prosecute Mr. Pattathanam for making "objectionable references" to the spiritual leader, and for "hurting the religious sentiments of her devotees." He was able to do this because of Section 295-A of the criminal code which criminalizes "insulting or attempting to insult the religion or religious beliefs of any class of citizens with an intention of outraging its religious feelings." Contrary to popular perception, there is no freedom of speech in India. The case should be a warning to any Americans who are yet uncertain of where we too shall end up if we pass all the laws proposed to ban 'hate speech.'

The situation is this: Mr. Pattathanam could be arrested and even tortured. Custodial deaths are not uncommon in Kerala, and the resurgence of Hindu fundamentalism has seen the development of a virtual war against India's rationalist community. America's Atheists, Humanists, and other freethinkers must do everything they can to help their eminent Indian colleague.

So that our readers can understand the complex situation well enough to write letters that will be perceived as credible by Kerala officials, we are reprinting almost in toto a long appeal we have just received via e-mail from the Kerala State Committee of the Peoples Union For Civil Liberties. We ask everyone to comply with the appeal below for letters in support of Mr. Pattathanam. His very life may depend upon them.

Urgent Action Move Earth and Heaven to Protect the Life of Sreeni Pattathanam

Dear Friend,

Urgent action is needed to protect the life of Malayalam writer and eminent rationalist leader Mr. Sreeni Pattathanam in the Indian state of Kerala!

PEOPLES UNION FOR CIVIL LIBERTIES

KERALA STATE COMMITTEE GANDHI BHAVAN, KACHERIPADY, BANERJI ROAD, KOCHI 682018, KERALA

http://www.pucl.org

PRESIDENT: Adv: P.A. Pauran

GENERAL SECRETARY: Vilayody Venugopal

TREASURER: Jacob V. Lazer

A National Defense Committee (NDC) was formed by the Peoples Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Kerala, to further actions against the Kerala Government's inhuman order against the Malayalam writer and eminent rationalist leader Mr. Sreeni Pattathanam. Following the NDC, the PUCL State Committee has passed a resolution to support the writer Mr. Pattathanam. It appeals to every human rights activist and like-minded people to help this cause in whatever way they can. What follows is a short account of the controversial issue, which led the author Sreeni Pattathanam to become the prey of religious fanatics.

About the Author

Mr. Sreeni Pattathanam is a Malayalam writer who has ten books and many investigative reports to his credit. He was born in Kollam, Kerala State. He began his career in the Police Department, which helped him to...

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