“Though Christianity has existed for nearly 50 years in the village, there has been a growing strong opposition towards Christianity,” Pastor Sapa said. “The Hindu radicals want to see a ‘Christian-free’ village in Sangameshwar as part of their larger goal of establishing a Hindu India.”
“No one is talking to us in the village,” Mahon Reddy told ICC. “The work in our fields is affected. No non-Christian is willing to come to our fields for work. I am worried that there could soon be physical attacks.”
Santhosh Reddy, another resident of Sangameshwar, is not a practicing Christian, but has observed the rise of intolerance in the village. In fact, Reddy was a practicing Christian until he became a victim of the social boycott.
“We were socially boycotted by the entire village,” Reddy explained. “All of our relatives abandoned us, no one used to speak to us, and we were not allowed to attend any family or social event.”
“This is purely injustice on the minority faith community by [the] majority,” Reddy continued. “I like the Christian faith and teachings, but due to social pressure, myself and my family cannot openly practice. I am hoping one day I will again be able take a Bible and openly preach about Jesus.”
The demolition of the church in Sangameshwar was part of a surge in anti-Christian violence reported by ICC in the beginning of July. In the first two weeks of July, ICC documented at least 15 separate anti-Christian incidents. Documented incidents included physical assaults, church demolitions, forced conversions, false accusations of forced conversions, and the institution of social boycotts.
For interviews with William Stark, Regional Manager, please contact Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator: [email protected]