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OCT // 2020

Christians in India are facing targeted harassment and violent persecution. In some instances, Christians who were attacked by a mob because of their faith were given a shocking ultimatum from the local police: They must either leave the village or convert to Hinduism.

Police are supposed to protect. The fact that a U.N. member state would allow such an unjust maxim to be put on its own people is outrageous. The ACLJ has already delivered a critical written submission through our European affiliate, the European Centre for Law and Justice (ECLJ), to the U.N. Human Rights Council (UNHRC) to make the UNHRC aware of this travesty, urging immediate action.

As we stated in our report:

In July 2020, Hindu village leaders in the Latehar District met to determine what should be done to Christian villagers who refused to renounce their faith. At this meeting, the leaders determined that if Christians refused to renounce their faith and convert to Hinduism, they would be forced out of the villages. When six Christian families in the village did just that, they were brutally attacked and beaten by a radical mob of Hindus. After this attack, instead of protecting and assisting the families, the police also ordered the six Christian families to either renounce their faith or flee the town, giving them one month to comply. Joginder Bhuya, one of the victims, described the attack saying: “They tied our hands and legs with rope . . . . All the men’s hands and legs were tied with the rope. That way they might have thought we cannot defend ourselves. They also misbehaved with our women and kicked them all over their body. They punched us on our faces and back. It was a very pathetic and helpless situation for us”.

Sadly, these heartbreaking stories of persecution are becoming all too common within India. According to one report, there have already been 135 cases of persecution against Christians within India during the first six months of 2020. We detailed some of these instances to the U.N.:

For example, on 21 June 2020, Christian Pastor Rao was attacked while praying for a sick person in Kolonguda village. Around 9:30 am, Pastor Rao arrived at the sick person’s house to pray with them. Shortly thereafter, a mob of 150 individuals surrounded the house claiming that “India is a Hindu nation, and there is no place for Christians”. The mob then proceeded to break into the house and drag the Pastor into the streets where they beat him. Pastor Rao, who survived the attack, described the incident:

“They dragged me into the street and pushed me to the ground. There, they started to trample on me. They tore my clothes, kicked me all over my body, and punched my left eye. I have sustained a serious eye injury as a result of a blood clot”.

It is critical that the UNHRC work with the government of India to ensure that Christians are protected and don’t have to live with the fear that they may be attacked simply because of their religion.

We also presented an oral intervention at the UNHRC in Geneva, Switzerland, detailing more about the plight of these persecuted Christians in India:

India is a majority Hindu nation, with over 80% of the population practicing Hinduism. Practitioners of Islam are the second largest religious group at 13% and Christianity is practiced by only 2.3%.

Although India’s constitution assures religious freedom, India is experiencing an escalation of religiously motivated hostility and violence that targets Christians and other religious minorities in contradiction with the Vienna Declaration. This hostility can be seen at both the civil and governmental levels and is a growing threat.

To date, India has made no indication that it is willing to act to protect all of its citizens and to stop the atrocities that Christians are facing.

We highlighted examples of the horrific persecution of Christians in India. We also made clear that the hostile acts targeting Christians violate their right to freely practice their faith, and they must be stopped.

We can defend our persecuted Christian brothers and sisters in India. We helped free our client, American pastor Bryan Nerren, who was wrongfully detained for his Christian faith. Now, we need international leadership at the U.N. to pressure India to stop the rampant persecution and ensure its police protect Christians.

Take action with us before it’s too late. Sign our petition NOW as we fight to give a voice to the voiceless and protect India’s persecuted Christians.

You can help save Christians in India