CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE OF INDIA (CBCI)
The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI) deserves commendation for its courageous press release that unequivocally condemned RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat's remarks, calling them out for what they are - fabricated claims aimed at maligning the Christian community. By speaking truth to power without fear, the CBCI has demonstrated its commitment to standing up for the rights and dignity of minorities. Many newspapers like the Hindustan Times, The Telegraph, Deccan Herald have carried it.
Missing the Mark: Inviting PM Modi to a Christmas Reception Ignores the Plight of Persecuted Christians
THE FOLLOWING STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY CLOSE TO 200 PEOPLE INCLUDING : Tushar Gandhi, Annie Raja, Father Cedric Prakash, John Dayal, Prakash Louis, Pamela Philipose, Brinelle D’souza, Aloysius Irudayam, Shabnam Hashmi, Lisa Pires, Minakshi Singh , Abha Bhaiya, and Vinod Pande. The persecution of Christians in India has been a growing concern over the past few years. According to various reports, there has been a significant increase in violence and harassment against Christians, particularly in rural areas. One of the main reasons attributed to this alarming rise in persecution is the resurgence of Hindutva nationalism, which has led to an increase in anti-minorities sentiment, specially targeting Christians and Muslims. Many religious nationalist groups, such as the Bajrang Dal and the Vishva Hindu Parishad (VHP), have been accused of inciting violence against Christians across many states. According to the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI), there were 327 incidents of violence against Christians in 2021 alone. In 2022, over 300 attacks against Christians were reported across the country, with many incidents going unreported . The United Christian Forum (UCF) reported 486 incidents of anti-Christian violence in 2022, including 115 incidents of physical violence and 357 incidents of intimidation and harassment. The UCF monitored trend listed
“SCOURGE OF RELIGIOUS NATIONALISMS” – OUR INTERFAITH WITNESS
PRESS RELEASE: "SCOURGE OF RELIGIOUS NATIONALISMS" – OUR INTERFAITH WITNESS FIACONA joined two interfaith press conferences on religious nationalisms on the eve of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s arrival in the United Nations in New York City, NY New York, NY—September 20, 2024 This past weekend, FIACONA was proud to be represented at two crucial events across New York City and in Long Island, standing shoulder to shoulder with activists, faith leaders, and civil society members in the ongoing fight against religious nationalism and the persecution of religious minorities. Our presence at each event underscored our commitment to advocating for human rights, religious freedom, and the preservation of democratic values worldwide. Press Conference at the United Nations: "The Scourge of Religious Nationalisms" On Friday, September 20, at 2 PM, the annual UN General Assembly provided the backdrop for an interfaith press conference at 777 United Nations Plaza, titled "The Scourge of Religious Nationalisms." Speakers from various faith traditions gathered to condemn how governments have distorted religious teachings to fuel supremacist ideologies and empower autocratic regimes including the rise of Hindu supremacy in India and the globally that perpetuates violence through national and state public policies. Please watch the Press Conference here. These are a few excerpts of
Over 300 U.S. Christian Leaders Appeal for Persecuted Indian Religious Minorities
Letter to U.S. State Department demands designating India a “Country of Particular Concern” CLICK TO VIEW LETTER & SIGNATORIES August 1, 2024: Washington, DC — Hundreds of mostly American Christian leaders have united in a powerful call to action in a letter urging the U.S. State Department to designate India a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC). “As Indian Christians struggle to follow their faith in the face of Hindu supremacist policies, persecution of religious minorities is being buried by U.S. adoration of the current Indian regime,” says Federation of Indian-American Christian Organizations in North America (FIACONA) Executive Director Rev. Neal Christie. “This letter highlights the rapidly escalating state-sanctioned violations of human rights targeting religious minorities, including Christians, Muslims, Dalits, and indigenous tribal peoples.” The over 300 signatories include 18 bishops, three archbishops and 167 clergy from diverse denominational and non-denominational backgrounds, eight current or former presidents and deans from five theological schools, and leaders from over 40 Christian organizations. This is the first letter ever produced by U.S. Christian leaders addressing religious persecution in India. Signatories include the immediate past president of the National Council of Churches; the president, immediate past president, and ecumenical officer of the Council of Bishops of the United Methodist Church
UNITED CHRISTIAN FORUM
ALLAHABAD HIGH COURT'S SAFFRON.TINGED BAIL RULING FUELS FEAR FOR GHRISTIANS
JOINT STATEMENT AT USCIRF HEARING
Read by Sunita Viswanath, Executive Director, Hindus for Human Rights (832 words / 4:35 min) Dear USCIRF Chair Cooper and Vice Chair Davie, Thank you for inviting me to testify. I speak on behalf of Dalit Solidarity Forum, Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations, Hindus for Human Rights, Indian American Muslim Council, India Civil Watch International, and the New York State Council of Churches. We are disappointed that Muslims, Christians, Sikhs and Dalits, who face the brunt of religious freedom and human rights violations under Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, have not been invited to speak on this panel. The Biden Administration is in denial of religious persecution in India, failing to call out India’s persecution of its 250 million Muslims and 40 million Christians. In June, President Biden shocked the world by applauding India’s “open, tolerant, robust debate” with Modi standing next to him at the White House, just two days after 75 Members of US Congress had written to Biden expressing concern over “the shrinking of political space, the rise of religious intolerance, the targeting of civil society organizations and journalists, and growing restrictions on press freedoms and internet access” in India. Yesterday, The New York Times wrote: “Mr. Biden has soft-pedaled any criticism of the increasing
statement
Federation of Indian American Christian organizations (FIACONA), in a meeting of pastors and community leaders in Chicago area today, thanked the Baptist World Alliance (BWA) and Asia Pacific Baptist Federation (APBF), for its call to all its churches and all Chritians around the world to observe a 'Day of Prayer' on Sunday, August 20, 2023, for Kuki-Zomi and Meitei Christian victims in Manipur, India. Please share. BWA/APBF STATEMENT ON MANIPUR VIOLENCE: In May 2023, violence erupted in Manipur – an Indian state located in the northeastern part of the country along the Myanmar border. As of August 4, the violence has resulted in more than 170 deaths, 1,800+ houses burned, 350+ churches destroyed, and over 500 individuals injured and hospitalized. More than 50,000 people have been forced to flee their homes for refugee camps because of, among other political factors, their ethnicity and faith in Jesus Christ. Your prayers for Christians in Manipur and for a peaceful resolution to the conflict are desperately needed! The Baptist World Alliance and Asia Pacific Baptist Federation are calling Baptists worldwide to set aside time in their homes, church services, and communities on Sunday, August 20, for a time of united prayer for Manipur. Resources to support your
Statement
May 16, 2023, Washington DC. The Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations is greatly troubled by the large-scale assault on the Christian churches and homes in the Northeastern Indian State of Manipur during the first week of May by the Hindu nationalist BJP government-supported militia. The Federation has reasons to believe that it was a well-planned, coordinated attack by the party in government against the Christian population of the state. The attack has all the markings of the Hindu nationalist campaign seen in previous violent campaigns carried out by the BJP party and its mother organization, the RSS, in Gujarat 2002, Odisha 2008, and Delhi 2020. In all these cases, government authority was used to facilitate and protect the Hindu militia while the police were ordered to stand down for the duration of violence. During this government-sponsored violence, on May 3rd and the 4th, over 200 churches and over 500 homes of the Christians were burned by the BJP militia. The violence has forced more than 23,000 people to flee their homes. Initial reports indicate that the police were actively supporting the militia providing them tactical support. FIACONA strongly condemns the violence perpetrated by the ruling party on its Christian population. FIACONA urges the US
