In continuing violence against Christian churches in Sri Lanka, late last week Buddhist monks from the Bodhidumarama temple in Wadduwa, Sri Lanka incited a mob to march against an evangelical church, intending to "rid our village of the fundamentalist plague."
On the evening of June 19, around fifty monks, accompanied by one hundred and fifty others, marched from the Buddhist temple to the church. When they arrived, they found only two parishioners, along with the pastor's two daughters. After demanding that the pastor be brought to them, they began throwing chairs and tearing down Scripture banners, as well as physically threatening the pastor's daughters.
One of the daughters managed to call police, who were unable to control the mob when they arrived. After damaging the church, the mob finally left with no arrests being made.
The next morning, the pastor cancelled services, as he had done the previous Sunday because of threats. Again a large mob gathered and tried to force their way into the church, despite police guards. The rioters threw gasoline bombs, bricks and rocks, damaging the roof and windows. A parapet wall also collapsed. The police used tear gas to disperse the crowd, as well as firing shots into the air. The pastor was eventually forced to announce that he would stop holding meetings at the church.
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Minister of Buddhism, | ||
For more information on persecution facing Christians in Sri Lanka, click here.
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