India’s anti-christian violence alarms the world

According to Release International, right-wing nationalism and the enactment of anti-conversion legislation in almost 40 of India’s 28 states have resulted in a marked upsurge in attacks against Christians in that country.

Up from the previous year, the United Christian Forum (UCF) has documented 525 violent attacks as of the end of August. These laws, which purport to prohibit conversion through coercion or enticement, have been linked to an increase in violence. However, because of their vague language, any charitable endeavour may be construed as a kind of bribery.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) asserts that police frequently target Christians, especially those from the Dalit or Adivasi communities, by abusing these laws. Nearly 400 Christians have been charged and imprisoned in Uttar Pradesh since 2020, according to the UCF, and 520 Christians have been arrested and accused of forcing conversions. Human Rights Watch also notes that during the past ten years, there has been an unquestionable rise in attacks in India against religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians. According to HRW, violence against minorities is becoming more commonplace under the BJP, and impunity is solidifying.

Paul Robinson, CEO of Release International, voiced concern about the increase in attacks on Christians in India as well as the country’s denial that anti-Christian violence is on the rise. They hope that the world community and India will both take these investigations and reports as a decisive call to end the violence.