Violence, double standards against Christians in India cannot be ignored

As a church leader in India, my heart is heavy as I receive distressing updates from Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Madhya Pradesh. The so-called “anti-conversion laws” in these states — now strengthened with fresh amendments — have turned what should be the most basic expression of our faith into something criminal.

For 2,000 years, Christians have met in our homes for prayer, Bible study and fellowship. Jesus Himself promised that “Where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.” The Christian faith is communal. This simple, intimate way of gathering has sustained the church through every trial.

Yet in these northern states, home meetings are now effectively banned. Police summon pastors, warn them against holding services in private homes and insist everything must happen only in registered church buildings. If a pastor persists, a police inquiry is filed, often based on baseless complaints from outsiders, and arrests follow swiftly. Any chance at bail can drag on for months, leaving families devastated and ministries crippled.

We have seen hundreds of such cases. Pastors and workers are locked up under these draconian laws, even when there’s zero evidence of force or fraud. The violence is real and escalating: Last month, a pastor from Odisha was taken by a mob, beaten severely and forced to eat cow dung and chant Jai Shri Ram, a Hindu devotional chant.

Last July in Bhilai, a mob stormed a worship service, hurling accusations of forced conversions. Six pastors, including Pastor Moses Logan, were arrested and taken to jail. The next day, five of them were brutally beaten by jail staff, leaving them with lacerations on their legs and bodies.

In August, over 200 house churches around Raipur were targeted; one pastor was detained simply for trying to reopen his own home for prayer.

In Uttar Pradesh, Pastor Jose Pappachan and his wife Sheeja were sentenced in January 2025 to five years in prison and heavy fines for what authorities called “mass conversions” among Dalits — yet another case built on flimsy grounds.

This past Christmas brought a fresh wave of intimidation — prayer gatherings disrupted, homes vandalized, believers attacked.

And it’s not just Christians facing injustice, either. Recently in Uttar Pradesh, 12 Muslims were detained for offering namaz in a private house without “permission.” This creeping intolerance toward any minority gathering is disturbing. Meanwhile, Hindus freely set up small temples everywhere, hold pujas and events without needing approvals or facing raids.

The double standard is glaring. Article 25 of our Constitution guarantees every Indian the right to profess, practice and share their faith. But in these states, that right is being trampled for one community while others enjoy full liberty.

The Supreme Court has stepped in at times, quashing absurd inquiries, and pointing out how onerous and procedurally flawed these laws can be, especially when third parties file complaints. Yet the laws remain, and amendments have only made them harsher, with life sentences possible in extreme interpretations.

Without firm condemnation from the central government, religious extremists feel emboldened. The results are violent attacks during festivals and mob justice with police looking the other way. Christian groups in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Bengal, Delhi and elsewhere have taken to silent marches and peaceful protests, crying out for the Constitution to be upheld. But will that stop the blatant violations?

This is no longer just about restricting worship. It’s about dividing India along religious lines, pitting one community against another and eroding the secular soul of our nation. Who will hold the perpetrators accountable? 

The church must continue to stand firm in love, resist retaliation and embody Christ’s call to bless those who persecute us. The Church also needs to speak out and defend the weak. Likewise, we also need the strong arm of justice to protect the vulnerable. 

The free world cannot ignore this intolerance and the numerous anti-Christian activities in north India and other states. The attacks during the Christmas season received much-needed attention. But the violence and harassment persist in countless less-publicized cases. 

In the meantime, we will pray fervently, act courageously, and never stop raising our voices. The Lord is with us, even in the darkest times.

Archbishop Joseph D’Souza is the founder of Dignity Freedom Network, an organization that advocates for and delivers humanitarian aid to the marginalized and outcastes of South Asia. He is archbishop of the Anglican Good Shepherd Church of India and serves as the president of the All India Christian Council. 

This article was originally published on https://thehill.com/opinion/international/5726392-anti-conversion-laws-india-christians/