Non secular violence towards Christians in India has reached alarming ranges, with assaults growing greater than sixfold over the previous decade, based on a report launched by the United Christian Discussion board (UCF) in New Delhi.
The organisation documented 834 incidents of violence towards Christians in 2024, in comparison with 127 in 2014. The northern states of Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have emerged as specific hotspots, recording 209 and 165 circumstances respectively final yr.
“The Christian group, which has lengthy been a peaceable and integral a part of India’s various society, is now dwelling in concern”, mentioned UCF President Dr Michael Williams. He famous that these figures seemingly symbolize solely a fraction of precise incidents, as many assaults go unreported as a result of concern of retribution.
“The silence of excellent individuals in energy, and the complicity of these meant to guard us, has all however neutered India’s democratic establishments. The regulation and justice equipment are quickly turning into an instrument of persecution and concern. As we speak, the cultural police resolve who’s Indian sufficient – whereas our communities face systematic violence with little hope of the justice promised within the Structure,” Dr John Dayal informed Christian As we speak. The UCF Spokesman, broadly considered India’s most senior Freedom of Faith or Perception activist, warned that the state of affairs was reaching a disaster level.
The report highlights a disturbing sample of systematic violence, with 149 bodily assaults, 209 incidents of property harm, and 798 circumstances of intimidation and harassment recorded in 2024. Significantly regarding is the focusing on of susceptible teams, with 154 incidents involving girls, 342 affecting Dalits, and 354 focusing on tribal communities.
Regardless of 834 incidents being documented, solely 392 had been accepted as First Info Studies by police, elevating questions on regulation enforcement response. The violence peaked throughout the Christmas season, with 14 separate assaults on Christian gatherings throughout the nation.
The escalating state of affairs prompted over 400 senior Christian leaders and 30 Church teams to submit an pressing enchantment to President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on New 12 months’s Eve, calling for speedy motion to halt the persecution.
The UCF report describes a local weather of concern dominated by cultural “police” who outline Indian citizenship and loyalty alongside spiritual traces. This has led to what the organisation phrases a “prison template” of violence, the place harmless pastors and their households face imprisonment whereas perpetrators usually go unpunished. Greater than 100 Christians at present stay in custody, with courts repeatedly denying bail.
“It is a disaster brewing in plain sight”, the report warns, suggesting that India’s worldwide repute as a democratic nation guaranteeing rule of regulation and basic rights is at stake. The UCF notes that this surge in violence continues regardless of periodic outreach efforts by Prime Minister Modi’s authorities to Christian leaders in Kerala, New Delhi and elsewhere.
The discussion board is looking for clear enforcement of legal guidelines defending spiritual freedom and minority rights, emphasising that solely official integrity in investigations and court docket trials can deal with the mounting disaster successfully.
The report means that with out speedy political will and concerted authorities motion, the very existence of India’s Christian group may very well be threatened earlier than 2050. Based on UCF officers, the precise variety of grassroots-level incidents may very well be two to 10 occasions larger than reported figures, indicating a considerably bigger scale of persecution than formally documented.
