In a significant move, over 300 U.S. Christian leaders recently urged the U.S. State Department to designate India as a “country of particular concern” (CPC) due to its worsening record on religious freedom. This call, initiated by the Federation of Indian-American Christian Organizations in North America (FIACONA), is grounded in the alarming rise of violence against Indian Christians since the 2014 election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). FIACONA’s 2023 report documented 1,570 attacks on Christians, a sharp increase from the 1,198 incidents reported in 2022.
Urgent Appeal to U.S. State Department
The letter from these Christian leaders, dated August 1, underscores the urgent need for the U.S. to hold India accountable for its human rights violations. It advocates for targeted sanctions on Indian government officials responsible for severe breaches of religious freedom. Furthermore, the letter calls for support for independent religious and human rights organizations facing persecution in India and the U.S.
“The U.S. Church is tragically silent as India becomes not only our nation’s greatest ally in Asia but also the most dangerous democracy in the world for Christians,” said Pieter Friedrich, a FIACONA board member and journalist who specializes in South Asian affairs.
Broad Support Across Denominations
The signatories of the letter represent a wide spectrum of the U.S. Christian community, including 18 bishops, three archbishops, 167 clergy members from various denominations, and leaders from over 40 Christian organizations. This diverse support highlights the growing concern within the U.S. Church about the deteriorating situation in India.
Escalating Persecution
Reports from various sources, including the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), have consistently highlighted India as one of the worst violators of religious freedom globally. The situation in regions like Manipur and Punjab, where ethnic and religious minorities, including Christians and Sikhs, face increasing persecution, has raised alarms both domestically and internationally.
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Hundreds of Christian leaders appeal for persecuted religious minorities in India
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