[RC] Anti-Christian persecution in India

[BILROJ via Centroids: The Center of the Radical Centrist Community]

 
 

Hindu Radicals Beat 60 Christians Worshiping  at Pentecostal Church, Strip 
Women  Naked






 
 
By _Stoyan Zaimov_ (http://www.christianpost.com/author/stoyan-zaimov/)   , 
Christian Post Reporter
March 9,  2016





 

A group of Hindu radicals in India's Chhattisgarh state reportedly attacked 
 and beat 60 Christians worshiping at a Pentecostal church on Sunday, only 
a week  after the Indian government denied visas to a U.S. Commission 
investigating  religious freedom abuses in the country. 
_ersecution.org/2016/03/08/pentecostal-church-in-raipur-attacked-and-vandali
zed-by-25-hindu-radicals/"  target="_blank">International Christian 
Concern_ (http://www.p<script%20id=/)  reported that a mob  of 25 Hindu 
radicals 
targeted a Pentecostal church in Kachana colony, where they  stormed the house 
of worship on motorbikes, and began beating the 60 or so  Christians that 
had gathered for Sunday worship.
Read more at  
http://www.christianpost.com/news/hindu-radicals-beat-60-christians-worshiping-pentecostal-church-india-destroy-bibles-159035/#hvwP4CraDy0
xatEx.99


 
 
 

Witnesses said that the radicals also beat and stripped Christian women, 
and  destroyed various church property, including Bibles. 
Although seven of the alleged attackers were arrested by police, local  
activists claimed that an 'atmosphere of impunity' allows such incidents of  
violence against Christians to occur throughout the country. 
The radicals have attempted to justify the attack by claiming it was 
against  forced conversions to Christianity, an accusation often aimed at the  
comparatively small but rising Christian population in the country. 
John Dayal, spokesman for the United Christian Forum, told ICC: "The  
vandalizing of the church [in Chhattisgarh] comes as the entire nation of India 
 
is debating the role of [radical Hindu nationalism] and the government in  
exacerbating an environment of hate and intolerance against civil society, 
the  intelligentsia, and, above all, religious minorities such as Muslims and  
Christians." 
News of the latest church attack comes only a week after the Indian  
government failed to issue visas in time to the U.S. Commission on 
International  
Religious Freedom, which has long planned a discussion on religious freedom  
conditions in the country. 
"We are deeply disappointed by the Indian government's denial, in effect, 
of  these visas. As a pluralistic, non-sectarian, and democratic state, and a 
close  partner of the United States, India should have the confidence to 
allow our  visit," _said _ 
(http://www.uscirf.gov/news-room/press-releases/india-uscirf-not-issued-visas) 
Robert P. George, chairman of USCIRF. 
"USCIRF has been able to travel to many countries, including those that are 
 among the worst offenders of religious freedom, including Pakistan, Saudi  
Arabia, Vietnam, China, and Burma. One would expect that the Indian 
government  would allow for more transparency than have these nations, and 
would 
welcome the  opportunity to convey its views directly to USCIRF," he added. 
Christian communities have been trying to stand up for their rights in the  
Hindu-majority country, with dalit Christians, members of the lower caste  
"untouchables," planning a _nationwide  rally_ 
(http://www.christianpost.com/news/christian-untouchables-dalts-india-hindu-caste-system-nationwide-rally-
equal-rights-156556/)  for equal rights. 
One major piece of legislation they are protesting against is a Caste Order 
 that only allows dalits who still identify with their Hindu background to  
receive important government benefits, which takes away help from millions 
of  Christian dalits. 
ICC noted that the latest church attack is another sign of growing 
religious  intolerance in India. 
"Hindu radicals, who continue to go unchecked by the government, are 
dividing  India along religious lines and labeling religious minorities, 
including 
 Christians, as inferior and anti-India. India's government must do more to 
 secure the constitutional rights of all of its citizens, including 
Christians,  and to punish those who actively violate these rights," said ICC's 
Regional  Manager for South Asia, William Stark. 
"Unless this is done soon, India risks forever losing its reputation as a  
pluralistic and tolerant democracy," he  added.


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