Kozhikode joined the ongoing protest seeking justice for the nun who was allegedly raped by Bishop Franco Mulakkal, with academic M.N. Karassery launching a 24-hour sit-in under the aegis of the Mathethara Samajam here on Monday.
Sister Maria Thomas, who walked out of the church establishment to be part of a forum of ex-nuns and priests, inaugurated protest by symbolically lighting a candle.
“When people resort to a sleepless strike, it used to be called night vigil in our convent. What we are doing today is to keep awake to fulfil an aim. We will not rest until we get justice [for the nun]. The mission is ‘Save our sisters’. This is a historic event in the history of the Catholic Church in the world,” she said.
Mr. Karassery later told the media it was incomprehensible why the political parties, the media, and the government were silent on a complaint against the bishop even three months after it was filed along with evidence. Democracy, secularism and nationalism could be protected only when the civil society remained vigilant. This agitation was an attempt to protect the civil rights of the nun, he said.
Activist K. Ajitha and social commentator Hameed Chendamangalloor, among others, spoke.
