Meet The Kenyan Lawyer Who Sued Israel And Italy Over The Crucifixion Of Jesus Christ
Meet The Kenyan Lawyer Who Sued Israel And Italy Over The Crucifixion Of Jesus Christ
In 2013, a former spokesperson for Kenya’s judiciary, Dola Indidis, made international headlines when he filed a case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) seeking to overturn the conviction and crucifixion of Jesus Christ.
A devout Catholic and legal professional, Indidis said his motivation was both spiritual and judicial.
“I must uphold the dignity of Jesus,” he told Kenyan media. “His selective and malicious prosecution violated his human rights through judicial misconduct, abuse of office, bias, and prejudice.”
He named some high-profile defendants: Pontius Pilate, King Herod, Emperor Tiberius of Rome, and even the modern-day states of Israel and Italy, which he argued inherited responsibility as successors to the Roman Empire.
“The government for whom they acted still is answerable,” he said. “Pontius Pilate was acting under Rome, which was headed by Caesar.”
Indidis’ case wasn’t just about religion, it was built around a detailed legal argument. He challenged the legitimacy of Jesus’ trial, including the mode of questioning, the mistreatment he suffered during proceedings, and the substance of the charges. He argued that the trial violated not only the standards of justice at the time but also modern principles of natural justice and human rights.
According to the New Testament, Jesus was arrested by Jewish authorities on charges of blasphemy, brought before Pilate, sent to Herod, and then returned to Pilate. Although Pilate reportedly found him not guilty, he eventually gave in to pressure from the crowd and ordered Jesus crucified alongside two criminals.
“Some spat in his face, struck him with their fists, slapped him, and taunted him,” Indidis said, referencing Biblical accounts. “The judge who sentenced him said he had no jurisdiction to hear the matter but still passed a capital sentence under duress.”
He believed he had a strong case, citing historical precedents like the trial of Joan of Arc, the French peasant girl who was executed for heresy in 1431 and later posthumously exonerated by a papal tribunal in 1456.
“This is the same case with Jesus,” Indidis said.
However, legal experts were quick to point out a major problem: jurisdiction. The ICJ is a court created to settle disputes between sovereign states, not historical or religious grievances involving individuals especially ones that occurred over 2,000 years ago.
This wasn’t Indidis’ first attempt. He initially filed the case in a Nairobi court in 2007, but it was dismissed. Still, he remained undeterred, driven by faith and a belief that history should not remain unchallenged.
The case drew mixed public reaction. Some ridiculed it as absurd or symbolic at best. Others admired Indidis’ boldness and devotion.
“Many thought I was crazy,” he admitted, “but I know what I’m doing is just.”

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