Surge in Anti-Christian Violence Sparks Tribunal in India
In response to the increasing instances of violence against Christians in India, both Christian and secular groups gathered for a “People’s Tribunal” known as the “Caravan of Love.” This tribunal has called on the Indian government to put an end to the “impunity for non-state actors” involved in these acts.
The tribunal’s statement, released on June 2, highlighted concerns about the role of state institutions in these attacks. Participants reported that police often failed to protect victims, sometimes filing cases against those who were assaulted, delaying investigations, or pressuring communities into compromises.
Over 200 leaders, including representatives from Christian networks, lawyers, researchers, and members of both Hindu and Muslim communities, participated in the tribunal held in New Delhi on June 1. The event featured testimonies from 20 survivors of anti-Christian violence, revealing a troubling rise in hostility and discrimination against Christians.
The tribunal examined various forms of violence, including attacks on places of worship, threats to pastors and priests, social and economic boycotts, denial of burial rights, and expulsions from communities. It also scrutinized the influence of Hindutva organizations—groups that advocate for Hindu nationalism—and the behavior of political leaders, police, and judicial systems.
John Dayal, a prominent journalist and activist who organized the tribunal, expressed deep concern over the diminishing protections for freedom of conscience and religion in India. He emphasized the need for state governments to adhere to Supreme Court directives to address the rising violence.
Notable Increase Since 2014
The situation has worsened since the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, came to power in 2014. Instances of anti-Christian violence escalated dramatically, jumping from 127 incidents in 2014 to a projected 834 by 2024.
Prior to the tribunal, an investigative team visited regions in central India—including Chhattisgarh and Odisha—where incidents of violence have surged in recent months. Father Ajay Singh, a former director of a Catholic social action group, highlighted the severe denial of burial rights as an imperative concern, describing how funeral processions can be obstructed and even burial sites denied to Christian families.
Singh shared alarming accounts where deceased bodies were exhumed and subjected to ceremonies aimed at forcing reconversion to Hinduism.
A Systematic Exclusion
A.C. Michael, a coordinator for the United Christian Forum, shed light on how hostility toward Christian gatherings has become normalized. He remarked that peaceful worship is increasingly deemed a threat to public order. Moreover, there has been no representation for Christians in key minority institutions for the past six years under the BJP, highlighting the community’s political invisibility.
Vijayesh Lal, general secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India, noted that accusations of religious conversion have become a common justification for violence against Christians.
Siju Thomas, director of Alliance Defending Freedom India, spoke about the severe repercussions faced by converted Christians, including social isolation and denial of community resources, which are used to coerce compliance.
Closing Remarks from Activists
Concluding the tribunal, social activist Harsh Mander condemned the ongoing violence as a clear sign of a systematic agenda aimed at exclusion rather than isolated incidents of bias. He stressed that this pattern threatens the constitutional assurance of equal citizenship for all.
Dayal announced that the findings from the tribunal will be compiled and released in a book within two months, noting that the documented accounts are shocking and will span around 300 pages.
