Release International

A 58-year-old Christian was murdered in front of his wife after he challenged youths shouting offensive slogans about Christianity outside their home.

When the retired government employee, known as S. Stanley, came out to remonstrate with the three youths, they began to stone his house and attack his gate at Pavaloor, Kerala state.

As they ignored Stanley's appeals for calm, he went inside to call the police -- but they followed him in. Stanley was stabbed in the back, neck and stomach and died at the scene. The youths gave his wife Sisilet Bhai a severe beating before fleeing the scene on a bike.

The incident, which occurred in broad daylight on February 10, has sparked outrage among the Christian community. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) is demanding an inquiry into the murder, to establish whether or not it was the work of religious extremists.

'Stanley was a practising Christian, who lived a simple retired life,' said a GCIC spokesperson. 'The young men targeted him for his faith.'

• Pray for Sisilet Bhai and her two daughters, grieving the sudden loss of a husband and father. Pray that Stanley's killers will be brought to justice.
• Pray that the local Christian community would show love and tolerance towards people of other faiths, and be bold in spreading the gospel.

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