Jesuits call for release of priest imprisoned in India with symptoms of Covid-19

Father Stan Swamy has been awaiting trial for more than six months, and incarcerated in Mumbai.

Now, while the pandemic continues to ravage India, the Jesuit shows symptoms of Covid19. At the same time, it is known that several members of the staff of the prison in which he is located have contracted the virus.

Father Swamy was one of 15 activists arrested in October 2020 after the Indian National Investigation Agency accused them of having ties to extremist groups. Before his arrest, he recorded this message:

STAN SWAMY, SJ
Jesuit priest, Human Rights activist
“What is happening to me is part of something larger that has been happening across the country. We all know that prominent intellectuals, lawyers, writers, poets, activists, student leaders, have been jailed for expressing their opinions or raising doubts about power in India. “

The 84-year-old priest suffers from Parkinson’s and is hard of hearing, but the prison where he is being held does not have professional medical staff. 

Human rights defenders have called for his release, and Jesuits from around the world have expressed their support for him.

XAVIER JEYARAJ, SJ
Secretary of Social Justice and Ecology, Society of Jesus
“The entire Society of Jesus is with him, we are in solidarity. We want to say “Let’s help Stan”, who has been with the people. And by being with him, we want to say that we are with the indigenous population and the outcasts ”.

Father Swamy’s legal team requests his release on medical grounds.

India remains the global epicenter of the pandemic, with more than 250,000 new cases daily. 

Romereports.com