ICC Note:
A new report by the All India Christian Council (AICC) has documented an ‘alarming rise’ in attacks on Christians and their places of worship in India. From physical violence to social discrimination to even murder, Christians across India have seen a dramatic rise in attacks and intolerance. According to the AICC report, Christians are attacked every 40 hours in India. Many blame this rise in intolerance and violence on the current BJP-led government and their unwillingness to confront Hindu extremists operating openly across India.
04/28/2017 India (Premier) – Attacks against Christians in India have been rising at an alarming rate, according to a new report.
The All India Christian Council (AICC) recorded an increase of almost 20 per cent in attacks against Christians in 2016 alone. It says physical violence against Christians is up 40 per cent and murders have doubled.
In the report titled ‘Atrocities on Christians in India’ it stated there is an attack every 40 hours and is no longer confined to a few states as the violence has now spread to 23 states.
Incidents of church workers being beaten, threatened and killed as well as churches and Christian schools being bombed, torched, vandalized and demolished are all included in the report. It also says there have been attempts to force Christians to renounce their faith and convert to Hinduism.
Right-wing Hindu nationalism has been gaining ground, particularly since the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took power in 2014.
India’s caste system today goes beyond Hinduism as it exists in many of the country’s religions.
Dalit Hindus who convert to Christianity are called Dalit Christians in Indian society are classed as untouchables, are often oppressed and fall outside the Indian caste system.
…
