India: Christians face intensified persecution, imprisonment

by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News) – The International Christian Concern (ICC) aid organization reports that Christians in India’s Uttar Pradesh state are on high alert; emboldened by upcoming state elections, radicalized Hindus have intensified their attacks on believers, imprisoning a greater number of them.

Uttar Pradesh is one of 11 Indian states which has implemented harsh anti-conversion laws, which are often abused by Hindu nationalists to persecute Christians and have them falsely charged with forcibly converting Hindus to Christianity, ICC reports. These charges often lead to years of imprisonment.

According to ICC, 400 believers in India have been charged and jailed under anti-conversion laws passed in 2020. “Each month, this number exponentially increases, with 50 added in September,” ICC said. “The Indian government calls it the ‘Freedom of Religion Act,’ yet it is anything but free.”

Requesting prayer for India’s believers, ICC reported that the morale in the Indian church is very low. “Pastors have halted large gatherings, choosing instead to meet in smaller groups in member homes. Even then, Christians do not feel safe. ” ICC said in its report.

“Earlier this month, one of these home gatherings was invaded by radical Hindus,” ICC said. “The home was looted and destroyed, leaving the believers wondering when they would be next in line for prison time…The climate is increasingly dangerous for followers of Christ, and it shows no signs of improvement.”

Ruled by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party, India ranks 11th on the US Open Doors World Watch List 2023 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.

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