For Christians trying to care for the poor in India, there is always a need for more prayer, more hands, and more money. Much of that money comes from donors in other countries. Recently, though, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government has tightened regulations on foreign funding to nonprofits, including Christian groups that feed orphans, run hospitals, and educate children.
Since Modi took office in 2014, the Indian government has revoked permission for more than 16,000 nongovernmental organizations to receive foreign funding, using the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA).
“It is deliberately an assault against the nonprofit sector,” said Vijayesh Lal, the general secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India, “and that includes the churches.”
February 1, 2021 Share
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF, Independent US Federal Government Commission), in its annual report 2020, recommended for placing India under the category of ’countries of particular concern’, thereby tarnishing the image of the country for alleged religious persecution of minorities. The report seems to have relied on the information provided by the United Christian Forum, Persecution Relief and the Evangelical Fellowship of India.
The United Christian Forum had released on its website, a half-yearly report (January-June 30, 2020) containing 122 incidents. Many of the incidents were exaggerated and not factual. Moreover, incidents of criminal nature were portrayed as communal without corroboration. The UCF had launched (January 23, 2015) a national helpline number for the victims of violence and information provided on this helpline was treated as incidents of religious persecution of minorities. The off
EFI details attacks on Indian Christians
Uttar Pradesh is once again worst for atrocities against the Christian community with 95 recorded incidents
Catholics pray at the annual feast of Christ the King in New Delhi on Nov. 24, 2018. The Evangelical Fellowship of India recorded 327 violent attacks on Christians in 2020. (Photo: Bijay Kumar Minj)
An annual report by the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI), a Protestant organization, recorded 327 violent attacks on Christians in 2020.
The report said the targeted attacks included five murders, 26 incidents of social boycotting and six incidents of churches being destroyed or burned.
“The incidents recorded are by no means an exhaustive list as many remain unreported and unrecorded even in normal years because of the fear of further atrocities,” Rev. Vijayesh Lal, EFI general secretary, said in the report published on Jan. 14.
12-10-2020
Several Christian families in India remain in hiding following a brutal mob attack by tribal animists that sent 21 Christians to local hospitals.
Morning Star News (MSN) reports the animists threatened to kill the families for informing law enforcement authorities about the attack.
Animism is the belief that objects, places, and creatures all possess a distinct spiritual essence. Animists believe all things including plants, rocks, rivers, weather systems, human handiwork, and perhaps even words can be alive.
On Nov. 25, the mob armed with bamboo sticks, iron rods, bows and arrows, and iron sickles, attacked a home and adjoining church hall in Chingrwaram village, Sukma District, where Christians had celebrated a child dedication the previous evening.