by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – A new study shows that Christians in India face persecution at the hands of Hindu nationalists in no fewer than 23 of the country’s 28 states, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
Ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party since 2014, India ranks 11 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted; prior to the ascension of the BJP, the country ranked 31 on the WWL.
The new study tracking incidents of persecution against Christians was conducted by the New Delhi-based civil society organization United Christian Forum (UCF).
Data for the 2024 UCF study was collected from January to October through the organization’s helpline, ICC said. The data comprises 673 reported instances of persecution against Christians, including physical violence, murder, sexual violence, intimidation and threats, social boycotts, damage to religious properties, desecration of religious symbols, and disruption of prayer services.
“These are organized acts of violence by pro-Hindu groups targeting Christian faiths,” UCF National Coordinator A.C. Michael said in a statement about the recorded incidents of persecution. Uttar Pradesh (182) and Chhattisgarh (139) states in northern India had the highest number of cases.
In a 2024 report about the situation facing Christians in India, the Open Doors international Christian advocacy organization explains: “Christians around the nation of India find themselves increasingly under threat. This hostility is often driven by an ongoing belief among some Hindu extremists that Indians ought to be Hindu—and any faith outside of Hinduism is not welcome in India. This mindset has led to violent attacks across the country and impunity for the people who perpetrate this violence, especially in places where the authorities are also Hindu hardliners.”
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