Indian Police Arrest 13 Christians

for ‘Forceful Conversion’

Washington , D.C. (April 12, 2010)–International Christian Concern (ICC) has learned that 13 Christians remain imprisoned after Indian police arrested them on April 5 in Verajpet, Karnataka. They were arrested after Hindu extremists falsely accused them of forcefully converting Hindus to Christianity.

Vijay, Lakhama, Philomina Raj, John K.O, Peter, Satish, Macho, Baby, Wilson Mathew, Abraham, Mathew K.J, Freddy, and Johny K.A. were arrested while holding a prayer meeting at a Christian house. The imprisonment is taking a toll on the Christians and their families as most of the prisoners are heads of families. John K.O is suffering from heart disease.

The Christians have sought release on bail, but heir requests have been refused by authorities four times.

The state of Karnataka is ruled by the BJP, a Hindu nationalist party that is infamous for persecuting Christians. Last year, the highest number of attacks against Indian Christians took place in Karnataka.

“Ever since the BJP took over, there have been frequent violent attacks against Christians in Karnataka. The Christians in Karnataka are worried about what will happen to them if such attacks continue. We ask the international community to put pressure on our government to protect Christians from further violence,” said an Indian Christian leader in an interview with ICC.

ICC’s Regional Manager for South Asia , Jonathan Racho, said, “We condemn the Indian police for arresting the Christians while they were holding a prayer meeting. We urge Indian officials to immediately release the Christians and guarantee their rights to exercise their religion freely.”

Please call the Indian embassy in your country and politely ask Indian officials to release the Christians and to respect the rights of Christians to worship freely.

Indian Embassies:

USA : (202) 939-7000 [Phone] (202) 265-4351 [Fax]

Canada : (613) 744-3751 [Phone] hicomind@hciottawa.ca

UK : 020 7836 8484 [Phone] att.pni@hcilondon.in