India: 190 attacks on Christians so far in 2007

Nov 21, 2007 / 10:22 am

The All India Catholic Union published a report recently denouncing the 190 attacks that have taken place against Christians in India during 2007. 

In a document published on November 17, the AICU pointed out that these attacks include homicides, armed assaults, sexual harassment and lynchings.  According to Missionary Service News (OMPRESS), the president of the AICU, John Dayal, said the data has been gathered by various Christian groups in India.  He said cases of violence for other reasons besides faith were not taken into consideration.
 
“The cases that were presented and certified fall into the category of persecution,” Dayal said.  “We have not taken into consideration the situation of social marginalization of our many brethren in the faith in many Indian States, because it would be impossible to count them”.

The president of the Global Council of Indian Christians, Sajan K George, said the number of attacks is greatest in the states of Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh.

“Many of these attacks have occurred inside homes in the places of worship of Christians, as people were worshipping within the privacy of their homes and churches”.  “Often the Administration and Police have refused to either file or pursue the matter with seriousness. Unfortunately in our 60th year of Indian Independence, the government as yet has done little to bring these hate crimes under control,” George said.