June (Web-only) 2003

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The abuse of abuse
Militant Hindus in India are taking a page from the Chinese government: if you can't attack someone purely on the basis of religion alone, make up sexual abuse clams against them.

Inside the Jinzhou Prison in Hubei Province, Pastor Gong Shengliang, head of the South China Church, is bleeding internally, has lost his hearing, and is experiencing regular beatings. Chinese officials regularly harassed him simply for leading an illegal church, then created false charges of rape and assault—which all international observers agree are wholly bogus.

In 1999, a Hindu mob attacked the jeep where Australian missionary Graham Staines and his two young sons were sleeping. The three were burned alive as the Hindus shouted anti-Christian slogans.

Now 17 men are standing trial for the murders. The proceedings have been marked by several outrageous claims by the defense, but yesterday it took a particularly evil turn. Hemalata Karua, a 32-year-old woman from Machhagar, Keonjhar, testified yesterday that Staines tried to molest her when she and her husband attended an evangelistic "jungle camp" in Manoharpur.

"He entered and asked me to close my eyes and meditate," Karua said. "As I was meditating he laid his hands on my body, I protested but he continued to persuade me, saying physical relationship with him would benefit me." When she screamed, Karua said, Graham fled. Twenty days later, she claims, Staines's wife, Gladys (who is still working in the country) approached her to express regret and to ask that she not tell anyone about the incident.

In an interview with the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, Gladys Staines said the claim was "completely baseless and false."

"Mr. Graham Staines was a morally upright man," she ...