Persecution watchdog starts petition to support Indian Christians

It noted that believers have been facing persecution in the form of violent assaults.

India:  A persecution watchdog group has started a petition for hundreds of Christian families from over 50 villages in India who have been banned from practicing their faith, and pressured to reconvert to Hinduism.

"Today, we are joining our voice with our Indian brothers and sisters in Christ to call on the Prime Minister of India to specifically address the banning of Christianity. We believe in a society that touts religious tolerance and freedom. No one should be banned from practicing their faith freely. Sign our petition and let Christians in India know they are not alone in this fight," International Christian Concern (ICC) said in a statement, providing a link to the petition.

Although India's constitution guarantees religious freedom, reports have stated that local authorities in over 50 villages in the Bastar district of Chhattisgarh state have targeted Christians in the region by passing a controversial proclamation that bans the open practice of Christianity.

Believers have been facing persecution in the form of violent assaults and being charged for crimes there is little evidence they have committed. Christians have also been denied food, clean water, employment, and other basic necessities, while Hindu extremists have been pressuring them to abandon their faith and reconvert back to Hinduism through illegal fines and a promise to end the social boycott, ICC said.

Vatican Radio has also reported on the persecution of Christians in Chhattisgarh, noting in November that local laws have banned Christian priests from setting foot in a number of villages.

"The atmosphere in the state is not very conducive for Christians anymore," said Fr. Abraham Kannampala, vicar general of Jagdalpur Diocese. "We feel threatened as we are a small minority."

Bishop Felix Machado of Vasai and President of the Office for Ecumenism and Interreligious Dialogue in the Federation of Asian Bishops' Conferences, added that Christians have been targeted in the past few years in India because they are being blamed for the alleged decline of Hinduism, and are seen as a threat to India's national integrity.

"The issue of religious freedom in India has become extremely complex in recent years. Several Indian States have enacted anti-conversion laws, measures which effectively limit religious freedom," Machado added.

Source: Christian post