Churchgoers in Rajasthan, India experienced a brutal attack when gathering for a service on the 17th February.
A mob of 200 people attacked the group of 50 Christians, beating them with iron bars. Most were left bruised, and some with severe injuries.
The church’s pastor told the anti-persecution charity Christian Solidarity Worldwide that a new person had attended the church that day, and was seen sending text messages minutes before the attack.
The mob accused the church of forceful conversion, and forced the pastor and his wife to the police station. However, no one was charged with a crime - including the mob themselves.
The pastor – who wishes to remain anonymous – chose not to file a complaint for fear of repercussions.
This month, a bill has been tabled in Rajasthan’s legislative body to further crack down on ‘conversion’. The Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill 2025 follows similar laws which passed in the neighbouring state of Uttar Pradesh. The Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion (Amendment) Bill increased sentence times for ‘crimes’ which are often used to persecute Christians.
CSW’s Founder President Mervyn Thomas said: “CSW is concerned by the rising numbers of reported attacks on Christians and other religious minorities in India. In recent years Christians have been increasingly subjected to assaults, humiliation and the loss of their livelihoods and belongings by far-right religious nationalists who make clearly baseless accusations of forceful conversion. Meanwhile those who carry out these attacks enjoy complete impunity. We urge the local authorities to be proactive and take firm and swift action against the perpetrators of such crimes.”