Record 745 Attacks on Christians in India in 2024
745 Incidents Reported Between January and November
December 25, 2024
The number of violent attacks against Christians in India reached a record high in 2024, with 745 incidents reported – an overage of over two incidents a day – to an independent helpline by the end of November, according to the Delhi-based United Christian Forum (UCF).
The 745 incidents – excluding incidents from the northeastern state of Manipur – were reported to the UCF helpline, which assists individuals from the minority community facing attacks for communal reasons, the group said in a statement sent to Newsreel Asia. However, the figure likely represents only a portion of the total incidents, as many cases go unreported, it added.
The group says it can see a trend in which incidents of violence against Christians have been sharply rising year on year since 2014.
According to complaints received by the UCF Helpline, there were 127 incidents in 2014, 142 in 2015, 226 in 2016, 248 in 2017, 292 in 2018, 328 in 2019, 279 in 2020, 505 in 2021, 601 in 2022, 734 in 2023, and 745 incidents in 2024 up to the end of November.
A petition calling for strict action against vigilante groups engaging in violence against Christians has remained pending before the Supreme Court of India since its initial hearings in 2022, according to UCF.
“When one minority in Bangladesh was assaulted, a special emissary of Government of India Secretary level was sent to dialogue with the government of Bangladesh,” UCF noted. Attacks on Hindus in Bangladesh occurred immediately following the ouster of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, who fled to India. The group urged the Government of India to establish a national-level inquiry to investigate incidents of persecution against Christians within the country.
UCF referred to a report by the People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), which claimed that local police forces often collude with perpetrators of violence, effectively ignoring offences committed against Christians, who constitute about 2.3 percent of India’s population.
UCF suggested that “politically motivated” anti-conversion laws create an environment conducive to violence. These laws, enacted in 12 states across India, penalise religious conversion by force, allurement or fraudulent means without adequately defining these terms. They also require anyone who converts to another religion to inform—or, in some states, seek prior permission from—district authorities. Despite some of these laws being in place for decades and numerous complaints being filed, they have an extremely low rate of conviction.
The group particularly mentioned the recent amendment bill in Uttar Pradesh, saying it contains provisions similar to those in stringent statutes such as the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The Supreme Court observed that this bill could violate Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of religion, UCF said.
“Now as Christmas approaches we continue to pray for peace in our nation and hope the government will take assertive actions to restore peace and harmony amongst all citizens,” said A.C. Michael, UCF’s National Coordinator and former Member of Delhi Minorities Commission.
