A Special Report by ICC
10/19/2013 Washington D.C. (International Christian Concern) – Hindu nationalists in India continue to press their violent attack on Christians with impunity, revealing the frailty of the judicial system and creating concern over the future of religious freedom in the country.
Recent Attacks Against Christian Women
A series of attacks on Christians, particularly widows, demonstrates the violent campaign against Christians led by Hindu nationalists, in an attempt to reconvert Christians to Hinduism and garner political support for themselves in the upcoming national elections.
On Aug. 24, a Christian widow, identified as Laxmi Sovi, was attacked in India’s central state of Chhattisgarh by three Hindu extremists, in Kakadi Beda village in Kondagoan district. They reportedly demanded that she and her children recant their faith in Christ and return to Hinduism.
When Sovi refused to renounce Christ, the militants began to beat her, threatening to kill her if she didn’t return to Hinduism. They even beat her children and threatened to rape her teenage daughter.
She fled into the jungle to seek refuge, but when she returned home along with Christian leaders in the area, she found that her house had been demolished. After receiving medical treatment, Sovi and her family were taken to another area where they received shelter, according to All India Christian Council, which represents churches and mission groups throughout the country.
On Aug. 18, Hindu extremists visited the home of Doddamma, 42, a devoted Christian worker, in the town of Chikmagalur, who lives with her 22-year old daughter. They began by questioning the two about why they were visiting other Hindu families in the locality to talk about Christ and pray with them. They interrogated them about who gave them permission to preach Christ and convert Hindus to Christianity.
Later, both mother and daughter were dragged into a nearby temple, where they were ordered to reconvert to Hinduism. When they refused, both women were beaten ruthlessly until the daughter fled to the nearby jungle, where she was later found in a semiconscious state. Dodamma herself was found lying in the middle of the road. Both were rushed to the hospital to be treated for multiple bruises and swelling, until they returned home to find that their house had been looted and their belongings were tossed into the street, according to AICC.
On Aug 13, four men wearing helmets arrived at the doorstep of a Pastor in Jaipur, Rajasthan. They were greeted by his mother, who informed them that neither the Pastor nor his wife were at home. At this point, they barged into the house, allegedly destroyed the furniture and furiously interrogated the elderly woman to reveal her son’s whereabouts.
When she insisted that she did not know where he was, they attacked her and threatened to cut her into pieces if she did not reconvert to Hinduism. She was seriously injured in the attack and could have suffered more harm, but the men were forced to flee when neighbors realized there was a disturbance.
No Legal Action Against Perpetrators
Although local police began an investigation into the attack against Dodamma, local Christians express concern that many Hindu militants still roam the streets without being prosecuted in several parts of India.
“The lack of police investigation and convictions into cases of violence against Christians in India has created climate of impunity where perpetrators of violence fear no consequences for attacking Christians. Hindu extremism, disguised in the form of nationalism, is spreading across India. Where we see a rise in Hindu extremism, we also see a rise in Christian persecution. Unless these extremists are brought to justice, Christians will continue to be attacked,” according to ICC’s William Stark.
However, the thugs who perpetrate such violence are merely the footmen of a determined campaign against Christians that is driven by political groups championing an extremist ideology rooted in Hindu nationalism.
Extremist Ideology that Drives the Campaign Against Christians
Hindutva is the guiding philosophy behind much of the violence against Christians and Muslims in India, which sees the minority groups as political, social and religious rivals to their nationalistic vision for the country.
Christian persecution in India is rooted in the fear that the rapid spread of Christianity in the country is a threat to the political ambitions of Hindu nationalists. It is also driven by a desire to exploit the religious sentiment of the majority Hindu population by equating religious identity with political allegiance.
Violence against Christians is also used to preserve the political support of Hindus by intimidating them from turning to Christianity. In this view, demonizing Christians and Muslims, as well as persecuting them, is a way of demonstrating religious devotion and patriotism.
“With an eye on the general election of 2014, Hindutva extremist forces think that fomenting tensions between different communities and inciting society against the Christian minority can help them get votes,” according to Sajan George, President of the aid and advocacy group, Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC).
The real threat to Christians in India is not merely the violence or the judicial indifference, but the very political ideology that births these twin evils which empower nationalists and weaken the judiciary system. All eyes are now on the upcoming elections, which could direct the nature of religious freedom in India for the years to come.
 
For interviews, contact William Stark: RM-AfricaAsia@persecution.org
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