Indian Human Rights Activist Fr. Stan Swamy SJ has died
Fr. Stan Swamy SJ, Jesuit priest and human rights activist in India, has died. The 84-year-old priest was held in prison on trumped up charges while suffering from Parkinson’s Disease. He was finally admitted to hospital this May and was diagnosed with COVID-19.
By ACN Staff
Fr. Stan Swamy SJ. (Credit: Communications Hub JCSA)
Aid to the Church in Need (ACN) is sorry to report that Father Stan Lourduswamy SJ, better known as Fr. Stan Swamy, died on Monday 5 July. The 84-year-old Indian Jesuit priest died in a Catholic hospital in Mumbai. Fr. Stan was known to have Parkinson’s Disease and other conditions. When he was admitted to hospital, he was diagnosed with COVID-19.
Fr. Stan had been imprisoned since October 2020 on trumped up charges of supporting Maoist terrorists. Fr. Stan always denied these accusations. ACN was amongst organisations calling for the release of the Indian Jesuit who was well known for his advocacy for the poor, particularly for the land rights of the marginalised indigenous Adivasi people in Jharkhand state in the northeast of India. Many speculate his activism was the real reason for his arrest.
Dr. Thomas Heine-Geldern. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)
The targeting of priests and religious who work with marginalised communities in India is not rare. The Executive President of ACN, Dr. Thomas Heine-Geldern explains further:
“We know from our project partners that false accusations are often made against them in order to intimidate them and disrupt their work on behalf of the ethnic minorities and the castless dalits, (or ‚'untouchables’).”
Dr. Heine-Geldern expressed some concern about the development of Hindu nationalism in India:
“This Hindu nationalist movement is seeking to force other religions such as Christianity out of India and suppress Christian voices in the country. Instead, the suffering and death of Father Stan Swamy should now be a wake-up call for the international community. Freedom of religion and advocacy on behalf of the poorest of the poor in India must continue to be upheld.”
The fact that Fr. Stan was kept in prison on obviously spurious charges while clearly suffering from ill health should be a major concern. It was only in May of this year that the court agreed to transfer him to hospital, this happened after months of pleading on the priest’s behalf. Fr. Stan dedicated his life to be a friend and advocate of the most needy of God’s children. Please join us in prayer for the repose of his soul.