Christians in India are facing increasing persecution, according to a new report by the United Christian Forum (UCF).
The Violence Monitor Report 2024 documented 673 cases of alleged violence and discrimination up to October this year. UCF claims that only 47 of these cases have resulted in formal police action in the form of First Information Reports (FIRs).
The report identifies Uttar Pradesh as the state with the highest number of incidents, with attacks documented in 23 of India’s 28 states.
According to UCF, the number of incidents has risen steadily over the past decade. In 2014, just before the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came to power at the federal level, there were fewer than 100 recorded incidents of violence against Christians. By 2018, that number had grown to nearly 300 incidents, with the total increasing each year since.
This comes amid wider concerns over the Indian government’s insufficient response to religious violence, including attacks in Manipur, where over 100 Christians have been killed, 500 churches destroyed, and 60,000 people displaced in the past year.
Henry a representative of the Christian persecution watchdog CSW told Premier Christian Radio that conditions for religious minorities in India are “dire.”
India’s strict anti-conversion laws have contributed to increased harassment of Christians and false accusations of forced conversions, according to reports by numerous anti-persecution charities.
Although religious freedom is protected under India’s constitution, Henry said Christians are regularly “targeted and harassed” for practicing their faith.
“Private prayer meetings are open to targeted attacks,” he said. “Just wanting freedom to speak about their faith is seen as an attempt on conversion.”
Henry also suggested that the actual number of incidents could be higher, as many victims face threats and intimidation that prevent them from reporting.
“In some cases, the police are also complicit in these attacks,” he added, claiming that authorities often “turn a blind eye” to such incidents.
CSW has called on the Indian government and the international community to take stronger steps to protect Christians and other religious minorities.
