11India

India is a diverse and democratic country – but in 2023, in some states, it’s a scary place to be a Christian. Violent persecution remains at an extreme level, and Christians still face very high pressure in all spheres of life.

Since the current government came to power in May 2014 pressure on Christians has risen dramatically. This has also seen rise in Hindutva, an ideology that believes only Hindus are true Indians, and that Christians and other religious minorities have ‘foreign’ roots and must be expelled. Hindu extremists attack others with impunity, using extreme violence in some areas.

Increasing numbers of states are also implementing anti-conversion laws, supposedly to stop Hindus being forcibly converted to other religions, but in reality, they are often used as an excuse to harass and intimidate Christians.

Believers from a Hindu background and church leaders and their families are most at risk, many facing constant pressure, physical assaults and are sometimes even killed. Being a pastor is one of the riskiest vocations in the country today. Hindu extremists target them with violent attacks to sow fear in the wider Christian community.