Covid-19 and the persecuted church
As the Covid-19 pandemic spreads around the globe, some of the countries from which Church in Chains reports regularly have been very badly hit.
Category: India
INDIA: Multiple attacks on Christians across country
Violence against Christians in India hit a new level in March with a large number of hate crimes across the country including cases of police brutality.
INDIA: Hindu extremists beat Christian children
Hindu extremists in Karnataka state beat children attending a house church meeting and accused the adults of carrying out conversions.
INDIA: Report shows increase in attacks on Christians in 2019
A report published by Persecution Relief shows that the number of hate crimes against Christians in India rose again in 2019, to a new annual high of 527 reported incidents.
INDIA: Police in Bihar criticised for bias and inaction
Police took no action after Pastor Shelton Viswanathan was beaten by Hindu extremists.
INDIA: Dublin embassy willing to engage in dialogue
Mr Sandeep Kumar, the newly-appointed Ambassador of India, has said that the Indian Embassy in Dublin wishes to engage in dialogue with Church in Chains.
IRELAND: TDs and Senators petition Indian Ambassador to protect Indian Christians
Seventeen members of the Oireachtas have signed a petition to the Indian Ambassador requesting the Indian government to act to protect Christians who continue to face ongoing attacks from Hindu extremists.
INDIA: Church building burned to ashes in Uttar Pradesh
In the early hours of 16 November, extremists set fire to a church building in Ahladpur village and burned it down.
“Pray that God will keep the Indian church faithful”
Shibu Thomas asked delegates at Church in Chains’ annual conference to pray for the church in India, which he said is going through an unprecedented time of persecution.
Oireachtas Foreign Affairs Committee focuses on persecution of Christians in India
In late March, a Church in Chains delegation comprising Director David Turner, Advocacy Officer Pamela Coulter and Baiju George, an Indian pastor, made a presentation about the rise of persecution of Christians in India to TDs and Senators to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs.