Persecution of Christians on increase in India

An angry mob attacked a group of 80 Christians participating in a prayer meeting in the city of Roorkey, Uttaranchal State, India late last year, according to a report from Compass Direct. Assailants tore apart banners, posters and tracts. They burned Bibles and damaged equipment at the Vaishali Guesthouse, which was hosting the prayer service.

This report is just one example of the persecution that has steadily increased in India over the last several years. In fact, more persecution incidents were recorded in India between 1998 and 2003 than in the previous 100 years. Approximately 4,000 cases are pending in Indian courts involving attacks against Christians.

India is officially the world’s largest functioning democracy. But radical Hindus are eager to turn India into a pure Hindu nation. That has led to the implementation of “anti-conversion” laws in five Indian states that are clearly biased against Christians and Christian missionary activity. Under the law, anyone converting to another faith must register with local authorities. A national “anti-conversion” law is also on the table.

Joseph R. Pitts, a U.S. Congressman from Pennsylvania, recently returned from a fact-finding trip to India. He told Compass Direct: “Christians in India are a minority group easily targeted and exploited. We are very concerned about the rise of extremism, whether it’s Islam, Hindu or Buddhist. We heard testimonies about ‘anti-conversion’ laws, which basically are taking away the peoples’ religious freedom. This is contrary to what democracy stands for.”