How are Christians persecuted in India?
- The extreme belief that to be Indian means being Hindu has led to violent attacks against Christians across the country, and impunity for the people who perpetrate this violence.
- In places where authorities are linked with Hindu extremism, Christians who attend house churches risk attack, as extremist mobs continue to target churches, often interrupting church services.
- Christian women are at risk of sexual violence, while men can face physical torture and mob attacks. Church leaders are particularly vulnerable, with false blasphemy charges levied against them. Many who are accused are unfairly tried and end up in prison.
- Twelve states have anti-conversion laws – purportedly to protect people from being forcibly converted, but which are frequently abused to falsely charge Christians and other religious minorities.
“Our hearts are filled with joy and gratitude that hundreds of brothers and sisters are praying for us. It’s given us the strength to move forward and continue the race that the Lord has set before us.”
Narendran* and Kavita* on receiving letters from Open Doors supporters after they were attacked by a mob
Why are Christians persecuted in India?
- Hindu extremists view all Christians as outsiders and aim to cleanse the nation of Islam and Christianity. This hostility is often driven by an ongoing Hindu nationalist belief among some extremists that all Indians ought to be Hindu – and any faith outside of Hinduism is not welcome in India.
- The ongoing ethnoreligious conflict in Manipur that began in May 2023 continues to have a strong undercurrent of religious intolerance.
Who is particularly vulnerable in India?
- Converts from Hinduism face the harshest persecution and can be pressured to return to Hinduism by family, community and extremists who conduct reconversion campaigns like Ghar Wapsi (‘homecoming’).
- The rise in persecution against tribal Christians, among those categorised as Scheduled Tribes, has increased. Hindu extremists introduced the ‘delisting campaign’ against tribal converts to strip them of their rights and privileges.
- House church leaders are also targeted by extremists with mob violence and false charges of forced conversion.
“Houses are burned down, innocent lives are lost, and families continue to be displaced.”
Anjali Lhing,* Open Doors partner on violence in Manipur
What has changed in India in the past year?
- India remains at number 11 on the World Watch List, with a slight increase in persecution score.
- India held its national elections in mid-2024 and, once again, Narendra Modi was re-installed as prime minister. But this time, his nationalist party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), did not win outright. Instead, Prime Minister Modi had to build a coalition with other political parties, including some who strongly support religious freedom.
- Despite the encouraging news of the national elections, violence against religious minorities continued – including violence against Christians in Manipur State, home to a massive ethnoreligious conflict in 2023.
- More states adopted anti-conversion laws, creating an environment where any Christian who shares their faith can be accused of a crime, intimidated, harassed and even met with violence. And the northern state of Uttar Pradesh tightened its existing anti-conversion law, adding life imprisonment as a possible sentence.
“They [church leaders in Uttar Pradesh] anticipate fearful times ahead as the new amendments will accelerate and intensify the persecution of the Christian community.”
Abhay Kumar*, Open Doors local partner
How can I help Christians in India?
- Please keep praying for your brothers and sisters in India. Your prayers make an enormous difference to those following Jesus no matter the cost.
Open Doors raises prayer support for Christians in India.
*Names changed for security reasons
Lord, we pray for Your guidance for India’s new government and ask You to convict and empower these elected leaders to protect religious freedom for minorities, including Christians. We pray for peace and healing in this nation. Help new believers endure the pressure and violence they face for their decision to follow Jesus and be ever-present with church leaders who are following Your call on their lives to preach the gospel and build Your church. May we always be fervent in our prayers for our Indian brothers and sisters. In Jesus’s name we pray, Amen.
