New Delhi: A collective of Christian women leaders, accompanied by religious figures and community representatives, have urgently appealed to President Droupadi Murmu via email, raising critical concerns about the escalating persecution of Christian women across various states in India. The appeal underscores a pattern of targeted violence and discrimination, urging immediate intervention to safeguard religious freedom and constitutional rights.
The appeal highlights a recent distressing incident in Chhattisgarh involving Kunika Kashyap, a six-month pregnant tribal woman who suffered a miscarriage after being attacked because of her Christian faith. On January 2, 2025, Kashyap was reportedly assaulted by the village headman and his family for praying for a sick relative.
The communication documents multiple instances of violence against Christian women across different states, painting a grim picture of their plight:
- Chhattisgarh: Numerous incidents of physical violence, including killings, and false accusations leading to judicial remand.
- Jharkhand: Cases of ostracism, isolation, and forced religious conversions.
- Manipur: An ongoing crisis since May 2023, marked by documented cases of murder, sexual violence, and displacement.
- Punjab and Tamil Nadu: Reports of forced sex work, family abuse, and community ostracism.
The appeal asserts that these attacks are not isolated incidents but rather a calculated campaign of persecution that endangers religious freedom and violates constitutional rights. The signatories have implored the President to intervene, calling for:
- Prompt investigation of all reported cases
- Protection for vulnerable Christian women
- Action against perpetrators
- Implementation of constitutional safeguards
The appeal has garnered significant support, with endorsements from over 460 Christian leaders, community members, and civil society representatives nationwide.
According to data collected by the United Christian Forum (UCF), 745 incidents of violence against Christians in India were reported through its helpline by the end of November 2024. This figure represents a nearly six-fold increase compared to the 127 incidents recorded in 2014, signaling a concerning rise in attacks against the Christian community across the country.
Signatories of the appeal include prominent figures such as Mrs. Tingneviah Lotzem, Virginia Saldanha of the Indian Women Theologians’ Forum, Dr. Anitha Chettiar from the Institute of Social Service, Dr. Vandana Benjamin, National Women’s President of Alpha Omega Christian Mahasangh, Fr. Cedric Prakash SJ, a human rights and peace activist/writer, Dr. John Dayal, former member of the Prime Minister National Integration Council, Rev. Dr. Richard Howell, chairman of the Evangelical Church of God, Bishop Akhilesh Edgar, general secretary of the Council of Evangelical Churches in India, and Rev. Vijayesh Lal, general secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India.
“These systematic attacks demonstrate an alarming pattern of targeted violence that threatens our community’s existence,” the appeal states. “This cannot be dismissed as merely an ethnic conflict – the coordinated destruction of religious institutions and organized attacks on Christians reveals a deliberate campaign of persecution that strikes at the heart of our constitutional guarantees of religious freedom”.
In a letter to President Droupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, more than 400 Christian leaders and 30 church groups called for urgent action to address rising violence and systemic challenges faced by the Christian community in India. The Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) recorded over 720 incidents targeting Christians until mid-December of the previous year, while the United Christian Forum (UCF) recorded 760 incidents up to the end of November.
The Christian leaders have also expressed deep concern regarding the ongoing crisis and violence in Manipur, where over 250 lives have been lost, over 360 churches destroyed, and thousands displaced since May 2023.
The appeal concludes with a call for inclusivity and harmony, emphasizing that these values are vital for the moral fabric of the nation and its economic and social prosperity. The Christian leaders assure their prayers for the country’s leaders and their commitment to building a united, peaceful, and prosperous India.
Attached Appeal to President highlighting plight of Indian Christian women.
Somehow Christians in India like to cry persecution. How about learning self-defence, especially for our girls and womenfolk, from the grassroots level, without going gung-ho about it?