June 30, 2025
International Christian Concern calls for ‘peace and prayer’ as anti-Christian persecution sweeps India
Two years after the groundbreaking ICC report, Christians continue to live in fear as anti-conversion laws are weaponized to oppress believers
WASHINGTON— Christians in India — particularly in the states of Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh — remain in fear for their lives as anti-conversion laws are weaponized against them and the rights of religious minorities are continually restricted.
Two years after International Christian Concern (ICC) (persecution.org), one of the world’s leading anti-persecution organizations, highlighted the issue in a landmark report, “Unchecked: The rise of Hindu nationalism, legal repression, and mob violence in the world’s largest democracy,” more than two Christians are being attacked daily, according to on-scene observers.
In the first five months of 2025 alone, 313 anti-Christian attacks were identified by the United Christian Forum (UCF), which made the disclosure on June 18. That’s on track to surpass the 834 anti-Christian incidents in 2024 and 734 in 2023. By contrast, only 601 attacks on Indian Christians were reported to UCF in 2021.
“Once an example of coexistence and community, India now faces a growing radical Hindu movement that wants to stamp out any and all non-Hindu beliefs,” said Jeff King, ICC president and global advocate for the persecuted. “We cannot stay silent in the face of this unwarranted persecution. The time to speak out is now.”
According to the UCF announcement, A C Michael, a former member of the Delhi Minorities Commission, said Uttar Pradesh in the north and Chhattisgarh in central India have become “hot spots of viral hate, brutal mob violence and rampant social ostracization.”
At the heart of these attacks, UCF said, are false allegations that Christians are forcibly converting other people to the faith. Twelve of India’s 28 states have strict anti-conversion laws, which give opponents tools to target Christians. The laws have been enacted in areas politically dominated by the pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
India has a rich tradition of Christian worship, going back to a purported visit by the apostle Thomas, one of Jesus’s original disciples, in 52 AD. After witnessing in the area near Kerala and establishing several churches, tradition holds that Thomas was martyred near Chennai in 72 AD.
Though a minority religion in India for nearly two millennia, Christians have largely lived in peace with their neighbors until the recent rise of virulent Hindu nationalism.
“Just as Christians are committed to living in peace with all people,” King said, “it is imperative that non-Christians in India recognize that peaceful coexistence pays dividends within communities and for the nation as a whole.”
ICC appeals to Christians in the U.S. and worldwide to pray for India’s Christian communities, as well as to peacefully advocate for the U.S. government to impress upon Prime Minister Modi and his government the importance of supporting the freedom of religion or belief for all of India’s citizens.
Jeff King has served as International Christian Concern (ICC) (persecution.org) president since 2003 and is one of the world’s top experts on religious persecution. He has advocated for the persecuted everywhere, testifying before the U.S. Congress on religious freedom. He has been interviewed by leading media outlets such as the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, the Washington Post, and The Washington Times. Jeff is also the host of “Faith Under Fire,” a podcast dedicated to sharing stories of the persecuted church from around the world. “Faith Under Fire” is available on LifeAudio, Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever podcasts are available. Jeff King is available as a guest speaker. To learn more, go to Christian Persecution and Spiritual Growth Speaker | Jeff King Blog.
Since 1995, ICC has served the global persecuted church through a three-pronged approach of assistance, advocacy and awareness. ICC exists to bandage the wounds of persecuted Christians and to build the church in the toughest parts of the world. Visit the International Christian Concern media page here.
Jeff King is the author of three books: “The Whisper” (2024), “Last Words of the Martyrs” (2023), and “Islam Uncensored” (2011). Jeff is available to speak at churches and events. For speaking, contact Jaela Bernard: jaelabernard@gmail.com.
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