wfn.org | Indian Government Must Protect Christians

["Christian B. Schäffler" <APD_Info_Schweiz@compuserve.com>]

December 31, 1998
Adventist Press Service (APD)
Christian B. Schaeffler, Editor-in-chief
Fax +41-61-261 61 18
APD@stanet.ch
CH-4003 Basel, Switzerland

Human Rights Organization: Indian Government Must Protect 
Christians
[98/39/06]

Frankfurt am Main, Germany  [APD] The International Society 
for Human Rights (ISHR) in Frankfurt has started a campaign 
in support of the Christian minority in India, reports "idea", 
the News agency of the Evangelical Alliance in Germany. It 
has been the target of numerous attacks by radical Hindus. 
The ISHR's Bishop-Joseph-Group appeals to the Indian 
government: "We are asking for religious freedom for the 
Christian community in India and the continuing acceptance of 
churches as sacred places of worship."

The United Christian Action Forum of India has registered 113 
attacks on Christians and Christian facilities this year. Violence 
has increased dramatically, since the nationalistic Hindu party 
BJP has taken over the government. Christian schools and 
churches have been devastated, bibles burnt, nuns raped and 
even murdered.

Of the 945 million inhabitants of India, more than 80 per cent 
are Hindus, 11 per cent Muslims, 2.4 per cent Christians and 
the remainder adherents of other religions. The ISHR group is 
named after Pakistani Bishop John Joseph, who had publicly 
shot and killed himself in May to protest against the 
persecution of Christians in his own country.