A message circulated in social media groups brought hope to Christians in India that there was some relief for 84 year old jailed Jesuit Stan Swamy, only to be dashed a few hours later.

Jailed Jesuit tribal activist Father Stan Swamy was on May 18 briefly sent for a medical check-up to a hospital in Mumbai after the octogenarian’s health deteriorated.

 Initially, sources on social media reported that he had been ‘shifted’ to the hospital. This caused some amount of hope in the system.

Later today [May 19] Jesuit activist Cedric Prakash sent out a message that Father Stan Swamy was “still in Jail and his condition is bad.

Father Stan, imprisoned in the Taloja jail near Mumbai since October 9, 2020, was taken to Jamsetjee Jejeebhoy Hospital ( J J Hospital), according to Jesuit sources.

According to them, the 84-year-old priest was given the first dose of vaccine for Covid-19.

However, on Wednesday morning, it became clear that Father Stan is still in Jail.  “Yesterday, he was taken to the JJ Hospital for some ‘check up’ only but not admitted,” said Fr Prakash.

Father Stan was taken to the hospital after his friends and conferrers raised a much hue and cry after he developed symptoms of Covid-19 infection.

Father Stan’s “health condition is getting worse. He has severe cold, fever, body pain and diarrhea,” Irudaya Swamy, the priest’s elder brother, told a press conference on May 15.

The 90-year-old elder brother also said that Father Stan could not attend his lawyer’s the call on May 15. “We suspect that he is affected by Covid 19. We are worried,” he had said.

On May 18, Shashi Tharoor, a Congress MP, diplomat and well known author, demanded the immediate release of Father Swamy.

“Father Stan Swamy has to be released on the basis of human consideration. He has all the rights for this. If his release is not possible, admit him to a hospital at least. Please treat him as a human at least,” he said.

On May 16, Jesuit priest Arockiasamy Santhanam, spokesperson for the National Lawyers Forum of Religious and Priests, wrote to the National Human Rights Commission to direct the Taloja prison authorities to strict follow the Covid 19 protocol issued by the commission.

He also called for the transfer of ailing prisoners from the jail, especially Father Swamy, to be shifted to a well-equipped private hospital for treatment.

The Jesuit lawyer also urged the commission to set up a high level committee or delegation comprising retired Supreme Court Judges, doctors and Civil Society leaders to make an on the spot study of the Taloja prison without any delay.

Joseph Xavier SJ, a friend of Stan said that in a telephone conversation on Saturday 14th May, Fr Stan said: “I feel bad, I have a severe headache, fever and cough. I feel very weak.”

 Father Joseph Xavier was “very alarmed” by this, saying of Father St, whom he has known for many years: “He never complains about anything. In the six months that he has been in prison, he has never complained, despite the obvious difficulties. It is not easy, but I manage, he used to say… However, in this last conversation, he said, ‘I have to tell you that I do not feel well. I feel very weak, very fragile.’

  Jesuits, social justice, stan swamy