Radiance News
Dec. 15: As per findings released by United Christian Forum (UCF) on Thursday, two Christians were attacked every day in India. In the last 334 days of 2023 there have been 687 incidents of violence against Christians, out of which 531 incidents are from North Indian Sates only.
Earlier on September 7, it was reported that in the first 212 days of 2023, 525 incidents of violence against Christians were reported from 23 states of India in just 8 months as against 505 incidents in the whole year of the year 2022.
According to the UCF, there were 147 incidents of violence against Christians in 2014, 177 in 2015, 208 in 2016, 240 in 2017, 292 in 2018, 328 in 2019, 279 in 2020, 505 in 2021, 599 in 2022 and 687 in Nov. 2023. “It is a matter of fact that our country has been witnessing a sharp increase in targeted violence against Christians since 2014. The annual ranking by the Open doors of the World Watch, India is ranked as the eleventh worst country on earth for the persecution of Christians,” UCF said.
“This is in spite of Article 25 of the Indian Constitution which guarantees the right to choose any religion of one’s choice. In our country, today, we have so called “Freedom of Religion Act” which is popularly known as “anti-conversion laws” in 11 out of the 28 states wherein a person living in India is expected to seek permission from the government to follow a religion of his/her choice by filing written information to a revenue officer in contravention to UN convention,” said A.C Miechal.
“From January till November 2023, UCF has received reports of 687 incidents of violence against Christians in 23 states of India which is little over two incidents a day in a secular and democratic country. Out of total 687 incidents, 531 incidents have taken place in 4 states of North India. Namely: Uttar Pradesh with 287 incidents, 148 in Chhattisgarh, 49 in Jharkhand and 47 in Haryana, said Miechal.
“35 Incidents of violence against Christians in Madhya Pradesh, 21 in Karnataka, 18 in Punjab, 14 in Bihar, 8 each in Gujarat, Tamil Nadu and Jammu & Kashmir, 7 each in Rajasthan and Orissa, 6 each in Delhi and Maharashtra, 4 each in Uttarakhand, West Bengal and Himachal Pradesh, 2 in Assam, 1 each in Andhra Pradesh, Goa, Chandigarh and Daman & Diu,” UCF said.
“There are other states too which saw well-orchestrated attacks on Christians. Last year, 2022, it was Chhattisgarh due to which over 1000 Adivasi Christians were displaced from their own homes and villages. This year, 2023, Manipur saw the worst ever violence wherein 175 died and over 1000 individuals severely injured. Over 5000 cases of arson and 254 churches burnt and vandalised,” the UCF added.
