Hindu extremists believe true Indians are Hindu, and minorities are persecuted.
bottom“Though I was attacked twice, still I can feel God’s protection in my life. I was attacked, yet was not crushed.”
– Rishi, a church leader in India
Hindu extremists in India view all Christians as outsiders and aim to cleanse the nation of Islam and Christianity using extensive violence. This hostility is often driven by Hindutva, an ongoing Hindu nationalist belief among some extremists that Indians ought to be Hindu and that no other faith will be tolerated. This has led to violent attacks across the country and exemption for the people who perpetrate them, especially where the authorities are also Hindu hardliners.
Anjali Lhing* an Open Doors’ local partner says of the 2023 violence in India’s Manipur State, “The victims of violence are finding ways and means to restore and return to the state, but the constant attacks and killings have shrunk all hopes and opportunities. Houses are burned down, innocent lives are lost, and families continue to be displaced. If the situation continues, another widespread violence is anticipated.”
Twelve states have passed anti-conversion laws where any Christian who shares their faith can be accused of a crime, intimidated, harassed, and even met with violence. The northern state of Uttar Pradesh tightened its existing anti-conversion law, adding life imprisonment as a possible sentence.
Elected mid-2024, Prime Minister Modi’s new coalition include some who strongly support religious freedom. Nevertheless, violence against religious minorities continues.
Christians who convert from Hinduism face the harshest persecution. They can be pressured to return to their traditional faith by family, community, and extremists who conduct reconversion campaigns such as Ghar Wapsi (homecoming). Converts frequently endure physical assaults and, in some cases, are killed.
House church leaders are also targeted by extremists and mob violence, and the rise in persecution against tribal Christians has increased. Hindu extremists have introduced a delisting campaign against tribal converts to strip them of their rights and privileges.
– For God to help the new coalition government protect all rights, including those of Christians.
– For a spirit of peace and reconciliation as Christians in Manipur State recover and rebuild.
– For the protection of church leaders falsely accused under anti-conversion laws.
Open Doors local partners strengthen the Church in India by providing Bibles, emergency aid, persecution survival training, and livelihood and community development projects.
