The Evangelical Fellowship of India’s Religious Liberty Commission (EFIRLC) reported 640 incidents of violence and discrimination against Christians in 2024, marking an increase from 601 cases in 2023.
The report, Faith at Risk: Examining Violence and Discrimination Against Christians in India (2024), highlighted a decade-long trend affecting the religious minority, which comprises 2.3 percent of India’s population.
Cases have nearly quadrupled from the 147 documented in 2014, according to a report by Morning Star News, an independent news service focusing exclusively on the persecution of Christians.
“The systematic and organized persecution of Christians has risen to crisis levels in several states,” said Rev. Vijayesh Lal, EFI general secretary.
“What most concerns us is that on average, four to five churches or pastors are attacked every day, with attacks coming close to doubling every Sunday when believers come to worship,” he added.
Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of incidents (188), followed by Chhattisgarh (150), Rajasthan (40), Punjab (38), and Haryana (34).
The report documents four murders, 255 incidents of threats and harassment, 129 arrests, 76 cases of physical violence, and 60 incidents of gender-based violence.
On May 4, a mob in Bastar, Chhattisgarh, killed 22-year-old Kosa Kawasi in front of his wife after he refused to renounce his Christian faith.
He had reported death threats to police weeks earlier, but no action was taken. On the same day, five other Christian families fled their homes.
On October 3, in Gaddopur village, Uttar Pradesh, a prayer gathering was disrupted by four attackers who assaulted attendees and dragged them away.
Victims reported that police did not intervene and instead detained them until midnight, warning them against holding future prayer meetings.
In Punjab, 11 attacks occurred during the Christmas season, including an incident on December 25 in Firozpur District, where a pastor identified as Vijay and his congregation were assaulted while preparing for a Christmas program.
The EFIRLC report identifies the misuse of anti-conversion laws as a factor contributing to persecution. “These laws, legally known as Freedom of Religion laws, have been misused to restrict freedom of religion of the minority Christian community,” a leader from Uttar Pradesh said anonymously.
The Uttar Pradesh government amended its anti-conversion law in 2024, increasing penalties and making offenses non-bailable.
“There are over 60 Christians who are currently in jail because of the provisions of this law,” the leader added.
On October 20, in Meerut, a Hindu nationalist mob disrupted a worship service and beat Pastor Biju Mathew.
Police initially released him but later arrested him under the anti-conversion law. As of February, he remained in prison, while Hindu groups claimed they had “re-converted” 30 families from his church to Hinduism.
In late 2024, 400 Christian leaders issued a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, condemning the targeting of Christians.
“It saddens us deeply that almost all political leaders from the highest [levels] in the Union government and the states have chosen not to condemn them,” the December 31 letter stated. “Rising hate speech, especially from elected officials, has emboldened acts of violence against Christians.”
The EFIRLC report stated that the 640 documented cases likely underrepresent the actual number, as many victims do not report incidents due to police inaction or fear of retaliation.
“The climate of fear prevents many Christians from seeking justice,” Lal said. “Even when victims register cases, the process often results in delays, acquittals, or, most disturbingly, the wrongful imprisonment of victims instead of perpetrators.”
Religious freedom advocates note that the National Democratic Alliance government, led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), has fostered conditions that embolden extremist groups.
India ranked 11th on Open Doors’ 2025 World Watch List for Christian persecution, compared to 31st in 2013.
