India (MNN) — A newly released list by Global Christian Relief says India experienced the highest number of attacks on Christian property worldwide over the past two years. Most of these attacks targeted Christian homes. Even now, Indian Christians are reeling from a series of Christmas attacks carried out by Hindu Nationalists across the country last month, several of which took place on personal property.
Prime Minister Modi has touted his commitment to peace and harmony across India, but Floyd Brobbel with VOM Canada says the leader turns a blind eye to persecution in his nation.
“The silence of the authorities just perpetuates the problem on the ground,” Brobbel says.
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He encourages Westerners to bring awareness to state and national government authorities so they are equipped to address this issue in ambassadorial and state-related talks. Brobbel says we need to see persecution not only as a religious issue, but also as a human rights issue.
Especially during holidays like Christmas and Easter, Christians in persecution hotspots like India and Nigeria are aware that any public display of religious activity could be met with hostility, Brobbel explains. Behind the attacks is a philosophy known as Hindutva, an effort to cleanse India of all religions other than Hinduism. Those with this mindset seek to form a Hindu state.
“Anything that is not Hindu would be relegated to at least a second class status if not eliminated all together,” Brobbel says.
In addition to physical attacks, Hindu nationalists target whatever looks religious, including creches and icons. So far, authorities have brought very few charges against the Christmas attackers. In fact, Brobbel says there are more charges against violators of anti-conversion laws than against perpetrators of religious attacks.
“There’s nobody speaking out. The authorities do not arrest people when they attack. And yet pastors and evangelists are being charged, fined, and even being put in prison for converting others to Christianity,” he says.
Anyone who converts faces further persecution and pressure to re-convert.
Please pray for those suffering from religiously motivated attacks and for those at continued risk. Pray also for families with arrested loved ones who are facing financial pressure and need legal representation. And pray that the Church in India would be resilient in the midst of hostility. Even in states that are usually more peaceful, Christians are seeing an uptick of attacks.
This rising persecution comes as mission groups face mounting pressure from FCRA laws threatening to expel them from the country. Despite this, Brobbel says God is on the move.
“We do see that the work of the church is effective in India. We see people coming to know Jesus as Lord and Savior. We see the church growing in this region and in this part of the world.”
Would you pray that the church in India would continue to have wisdom and boldness to do their work, and that many would come to saving faith in the midst of persecution?
Featured photo courtesy of Vincent Belho via Pexels
