The violence needs to stop.
A leading civil society organization, the United Christian Forum (UCF), has raised serious concerns about the escalating attacks and discrimination faced by Christians across India. In the first 75 days of the year, the UCF documented 161 incidents of violence, harassment, and exclusion targeting the Christian community, signifying a troubling trend ahead of the upcoming general elections.
The reported incidents include physical assaults, vandalism of churches and prayer gatherings, harassment of individuals practicing their faith, denial of essential community services, and false accusations, particularly concerning forced conversions. Chhattisgarh, a central Indian state, emerged as a hotspot with 47 reported cases of violence and discrimination, where Christians faced denial of access to basic amenities, threats of cremation against their religious customs, and violent eviction from their homes.
Even in death, Christians in Chhattisgarh faced desecration, as some were denied burial according to Christian rites, with local villagers threatening to perform forced conversions through cremation. Additionally, instances of state intervention further exacerbate the plight of Christians, as seen in Uttar Pradesh, a crucial electoral battleground, where 36 incidents have occurred this year.
The UCF highlighted instances of state-sanctioned harassment, such as the filing of false allegations of conversion against pastors for innocuous activities like praying at social gatherings. Furthermore, in Assam, while the government has proposed a ban on “magical healing,” in Chhattisgarh, pastors have faced arrest for conducting prayers for the sick, illustrating a concerning trend of religious intolerance and government overreach.
Critics argue that laws such as Uttar Pradesh’s Freedom of Religion Act are being misused to target minority communities, with over 30 cases recorded of pastors being detained or arrested under this legislation. The UCF’s findings underscore the urgent need for authorities to address religious persecution and safeguard the rights and freedoms of religious minorities in India.