Christians are being attacked, being evicted from their homes, being deprived of access to water
New Delhi ( Web News )
The Indian civil society organization has warned that Christians in 19 states of India face the threat of death for practicing their faith. In a press release, the United Christian Forum (UCF), a civil society organization based in Delhi, has released a report on the problems faced by Christians due to Hindu extremism. Widespread declines in rights and protections have been observed. According to the report, UCF said, there were 70 incidents of violence against Christians in January, followed by 62 incidents in 29 days in February and in March 2024. There were 29 incidents in 15 days. Thus, a total of 161 incidents occurred in 2.5 months. These incidents included violence, attacks on churches or places of worship, harassment, boycotts and limiting access to community resources, and false accusations, especially of forced conversions. According to a press release, Christians are being boycotted for practicing their religion in Chhattisgarh. Christians are being denied access to water from village community borewells, UCF said. Sadly, even Christians who died in the state were not spared as many were prevented from being buried according to Christian customs. Locals are threatening to cremate the bodies as a last resort to return home. As of Christmas 2022, Christians are being driven from their homes once again. Locals are attacking them, threatening their lives and vandalizing their homes. The release added that in Uttar Pradesh, which has seen the highest number of incidents after Chhattisgarh, There is clear evidence of government-sponsored harassment of Christians as police file false charges of blasphemy against priests even when they worship at birthday parties and other social gatherings. The group said, India as a whole has 19 states where Christians face the threat of death for practicing their faith. In just 75 days of 2024, 122 Christians have been either detained or arrested on false charges of proselytizing. As UCF we call on our leadership to end this violence by taking strict action against all perpetrators of such crimes, and we hope and pray for peaceful and fair elections. In September 2023, The Wire In a report, UCF National Convener AC Michael told The Wire at the time that there had been a sharp increase in attacks on Christians over the past 14 years, especially since 2017. In many situations, the police register FIRs against the victims of such violence (the Christian community) instead of the perpetrators, while the perpetrators are spared. Otherwise, the police usually try to comfort the victims by telling them that if you file a case, they (the attackers) may be more aggressive and your life may be in greater danger. .