Persecution of Christians on the Rise in India

A new report released in New Deli on 21 October found that Christians in India had suffered 305 recorded incidents of violence in the previous nine months.

By ACN Staff

Vandalism in Syro-Malankara Catholic Mother Mary church in Hyderabad. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

A report compiled by United Against Hate, the Association for Protection of Civil Rights, and the United Christian Forum found that Christians face persecution in 21 out of India’s 28 states. The national coordinator of the United Christian Forum, A. C. Michael, said that organised violence against Christians is spreading across India. He also commented that in the nine months since January there were 305 recorded incidents of violent attacks against Christians. Many of these attacks were carried out by mobs.

Vandalism in the church of St Teresa of the Child Jesus in Muniguda, Orissa. (Credit: Aid to the Church in Need)

Concerningly, violence against Christians is spreading in India. For example, the previously peaceful State of Karnataka in the south of India has seen 32 incidents of violence against Christians since the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power.

The majority of these attacks have been carried out by Hindu extremists. There were 28 cases of attacks against churches and other Christian places of worship. The extremists not only attack men but also women. More than 1331 women were injured in attacks, including 588 indigenous women and 513 Dalit women (previously known as untouchables).

Also of concern is the attitude of the police and the civil authorities towards Christians. The report noted that there were 85 cases of Christians not being able to assemble for worship under one pretext or another. There were also 10 cases of Christians being charged under anti-conversion laws. These laws are supposed to prevent forced conversions but are often used to target against Christians unjustly.

Archbishop Leo Cornelio of Bhopal shares the concerns of the report. He wrote to Prime Minister Modi about the need for the government to take measures to protect Christians from attacks. The archbishop wrote in his letter that religious minorities, and particularly Christians, are facing a campaign of hate and this had led to violence. This hatred and religious fundamentalism, the archbishop wrote, is a threat to the growth and welfare of India.