A Catholic nun was reportedly abducted and assaulted yesterday morning in Zomba by people who declared that “they do not subscribe to her faith and to her identity as a religion” and the Episcopal Conference of Malawi-ECM has expressed shock and dismay in a statement that has been issued yesterday on 12 April.

According to the ECM, the abductors and assailants of the nun threw out of a car window “the Rosary and the Cross she (the nun) was wearing and thus leaving her hurt, helpless and traumatized…

“…we fear that this has the potential to disrupt the peace that the Malawian society is known for. In our recent Pastoral Letter, The Sad story of Malawi, we warned Malawians against developing tendencies that demonstrate Religious intolerance. Every peace-loving Malawian knows that the Supreme Law of our Nation which is our Constitution provides for freedom of worship and thus every citizen has the right to belong to any religious grouping of his or her choice,” reads the statement signed for by ECM chairperson Archbishop George Desmond Tambala and all other bishops.

It is reported that the Catholic nun had been abducted by people who offered her a lift “pretending to be good Samaritans” but took her to a destination beyond where she was intending to go and they declared “that the assault was due to the fact that they do not subscribe to her faith and to her identity as a Religious”. The matter, which the bishops condemn, has been reported to police for action.

“We are …hopeful that these degenerating hateful tendencies of religious intolerances are curtailed and dealt with once and for all. We call on and urge Religious leaders and indeed all our leaders in society to preach peace and peaceful co-existence with one another to their flock. We further urge the same leaders to live this by their own examples,” the ECM says.