Christian Persecution on the Rise in India with 8 Reported Attacks on Christians during the Christmas Holidays

The papal organization “Aid to the Church in Need” has received reports from project partners in India that extremist Hindu groups targeted Christians and Christian institutions on Christmas days. "We are deeply shocked by this wave of violence, which unfortunately has already emerged recently," said Florian Ripka, managing director of "Church in Not" Germany. “India, the largest democracy in the world, is increasingly becoming a land of insecurity and fear for Christians and other religious minorities. 
Dr. Suresh Mathew, editor of the Catholic weekly newspaper "Indian Currents", confirmed eight anti-Christian attacks on the holidays for the aid organization. These went to the account of Hindu nationalist forces, including the "Hindutva Brigade". She is considered to be the militant arm of the ruling BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), which also includes Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After the “Hindutva Brigade” had attacked Muslim institutions in the recent past, according to media reports, they targeted Christians on Christmas days.
Christmas mass stormed and believers threatened

According to Mathew, in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, for example, a mob moved in front of the “Mathridham Ashram” monastery in Varanasi. The crowd chanted "Church Murdabad", in German something like "Down with the Church" or "Death of the Church". In the city of Ambala, Haryana state, extremists damaged a statue of Christ; In Silchar (State of Assam) a Christmas mass was stormed and the believers were threatened. In several places there were protests against Christmas celebrations in Christian schools or in public places.

 

"Organized violence against Christians is expanding"

According to a report published in October by several human rights organizations, 21 of India's 28 states are persecuted of Christians; By September 2021, the report registered 305 acts of violence against Christians or Christian institutions. "Organized violence against Christians is spreading across the country," said AC Michael, one of the co-editors of the United Christian Forum report. Other editors were the "Association for Protection of Civil Rights" and the group "United Against Hate". The report criticizes the fact that the police and authorities were too reluctant to take action against the perpetrators. More and more Christian women were also targeted by fanatics. "We live in a very threatening situation," Michael said to the "Church in Need".

Christians make up around 2.3 percent of India's 1.3 billion people. Churches are primarily involved in education, health care, and other charitable causes.

 

Further information on anti-Christian violence in India and attacks against other religious minorities can be found in the documentation "Religious Freedom Worldwide 2021" by "Church in Need": Edited from https://acninternational.org/report-violence-against-christians-is-on-the-rise-across-india/ and Kath.net