Christian Group Reports Rising Persecution in India

by Luke Booker, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – In 2024, Christians in India experienced significant levels of violence and discrimination, with 640 reported cases, a surge in cases since 2014, according to the Evangelical Fellowship of India’s Religious Liberty Commission (EFIRLC).

Last year, four Christians were murdered, along with 255 incidents of threats and harassment, 129 arrests, 76 instances of physical violence, 60 cases of gender-based violence, 46 disruptions of worship services, and 41 acts of vandalism, according to a EFIRLC report entitled, “Faith at Risk: Examining Violence and Discrimination Against Christians in India (2024).”

“What most concerns us is that on average, four to five churches or pastors are attacked every day, with attacks coming close to doubling every Sunday when believers come to worship,” Rev. Vijayesh Lal, Evangelical Fellowship of India’s general secretary, told Morning Star News.

“We’re not asking for special treatment but for the religious freedom guarantees under the constitution to be enforced on an even-handed basis,” Lal told MSN News.. “All Indians must be able to practice their faith without violence and intimidation. We urge all state governments to enforce the rule of law and bring offenders of religious violence to justice, whoever they are or from whatever religious and political background they belong to.”

The 640 incidents in 2024 mark an increase from the 601 cases reported in 2023 and represent nearly a 400% surge from the 147 incidents recorded in 2014. This ongoing rise highlights a decade-long trend of increasing hostility toward the Christian minority, which makes up 2.3% of India’s population.

Uttar Pradesh remained the epicenter of anti-Christian incidents, with pastors and other Christians often arrested on unfounded charges of forced conversions. Police routinely detained Christians after prayer meetings, family gatherings, and celebrations, typically without credible evidence.

The report emphasized numerous cases where such arrests disrupted religious activities and fostered fear within the Christian communities.

According to the Joshua Project, India is home to one of the largest concentrations of unreached people groups, with over 1.3 billion people having little to no access to the gospel.

India currently ranks 11th on Open Doors’ World Watch List, which identifies the 50 countries where Christians face the most severe persecution. However, in 2013, it was ranked 31st, but persecution has steadily intensified in India over the past decade.

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