[Photo: Believers Portal]
Christians persecution continues to be a major concern in India, with the latest news of two pastors arrested among 9 Christians in India’s central state of Madhya Pradesh, over false charges of illegal conversion under the state’s controversial “anti-conversion law”.
The law does not allow Christians to talk about Heaven or Hell as it is seen to be a way of luring someone to convert to Christianity.
According to a report by the Christian persecution watchdog organization, the police searched their homes and reportedly confiscated Bibles and certificates for a Bible course as evidence of forced conversion.
Since Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party came to power in 2014, national and international human rights groups have warned that attacks on Christians have increased and intensified in India.
According to Open Doors USA’s 2021 World Watch List, India ranks as the 10th worst country globally when it comes to Christian persecution.
The organization which monitors persecution in over 60 countries says Hindu radicals often attack Christians with little to no consequences.
“Hindu extremists believe that all Indians should be Hindus,” says Open Doors USA.
“They use extensive violence to achieve this goal, particularly targeting Christians from a Hindu background. Christians are accused of following a foreign faith and blamed for bad luck in their communities.”
Another report by the United Christian Forum notes that 2021 was the most violent year in the country’s history for Christians.
The report notes that there were at least 486 violent incidents of Christian persecution.
The previous report record 328 incidents in 2019.
This is as Christians make up about 2.5 percent of India’s population and Hindus comprise about 80 percent.
A newsmaker, reporter and anchor at Pearl Radio, Ndalilah Sharon is witty and savvy.
She is also a firm believer of Christ.