Religious violence against Christians in India has reached alarming levels, with attacks increasing more than sixfold over the past decade, according to a report released by the United Christian Forum (UCF) in New Delhi.
The organisation documented 834 incidents of violence against Christians in 2024, compared to 127 in 2014. The northern states of Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh have emerged as particular hotspots, recording 209 and 165 cases respectively last year.
“The Christian community, which has long been a peaceful and integral part of India’s diverse society, is now living in fear”, said UCF President Dr Michael Williams. He noted that these figures likely represent only a fraction of actual incidents, as many attacks go unreported due to fear of retribution.
“The silence of good people in power, and the complicity of those meant to protect us, has all but neutered India’s democratic institutions. The law and justice apparatus are rapidly turning into an instrument of persecution and fear. Today, the cultural police decide who is Indian enough - while our communities face systematic violence with little hope of the justice promised in the Constitution,” Dr John Dayal told Christian Today. The UCF Spokesman, widely regarded as India’s most senior Freedom of Religion or Belief activist, warned that the situation was reaching a crisis point.
The report highlights a disturbing pattern of systematic violence, with 149 physical assaults, 209 incidents of property damage, and 798 cases of intimidation and harassment recorded in 2024. Particularly concerning is the targeting of vulnerable groups, with 154 incidents involving women, 342 affecting Dalits, and 354 targeting tribal communities.
Despite 834 incidents being documented, only 392 were accepted as First Information Reports by police, raising questions about law enforcement response. The violence peaked during the Christmas season, with 14 separate attacks on Christian gatherings across the country.
The escalating situation prompted over 400 senior Christian leaders and 30 Church groups to submit an urgent appeal to President Draupadi Murmu and Prime Minister Narendra Modi on New Year’s Eve, calling for immediate action to halt the persecution.
The UCF report describes a climate of fear dominated by cultural “police” who define Indian citizenship and loyalty along religious lines. This has led to what the organisation terms a “criminal template” of violence, where innocent pastors and their families face imprisonment while perpetrators often go unpunished. More than a hundred Christians currently remain in custody, with courts repeatedly denying bail.
“This is a crisis brewing in plain sight”, the report warns, suggesting that India’s international reputation as a democratic nation guaranteeing rule of law and fundamental rights is at stake. The UCF notes that this surge in violence continues despite periodic outreach efforts by Prime Minister Modi’s government to Christian leaders in Kerala, New Delhi and elsewhere.
The forum is calling for transparent enforcement of laws protecting religious freedom and minority rights, emphasising that only official integrity in investigations and court trials can address the mounting crisis effectively.
The report suggests that without immediate political will and concerted government action, the very existence of India’s Christian community could be threatened before 2050. According to UCF officials, the actual number of grassroots-level incidents could be two to ten times higher than reported figures, indicating a significantly larger scale of persecution than officially documented.
