India slips to become 15th worst country for Christians to live; it ranked 31st four years ago: US non-profit Open Doors
According to the study, "While the level of intolerance continues to increase, Christians are regularly attacked by radical Hindus", adding, "The level of impunity has gone up markedly, with communities of converts to Christianity from Hinduism bearing the brunt of the persecution... They are constantly under pressure to return to their old beliefs, and are often physically assaulted, sometimes killed."
Significantly, Open Doors ranked India far better -- 31st -- four years ago. Ranking North Korea No 1 in persecution of Christians, 16th year in a row, calling it the "worst place for Christians to live", the study says, "In this totalitarian communist state, Christians are forced to hide their faith completely from government authorities, neighbours and often, even their own spouses and children."
Other countries ranking worse than India are all under Islamic regimes, including Pakistan, which ranks a high 4th.In Pakistan, the study says, Christians there not just face "close scrutiny and suffer frequent attacks", they are "targets for murder, bombings, abduction of women, rape, forced marriages and eviction from home and country."
All other India's neighbours, however, are found to be ranking far better than India: Bangladesh 26th, Myanmar 28th, Bhutan 30th, China 39th, and Sri Lanka 45th.
Calling India a "Hindu nation", the study cites a report by Sarah Callighan to prove
why India has slipped. Especially referring to the RSS, Callighan says,
if the saffron organization "has its way, India will soon be unified
under one religion, one culture, and one language."
Pointing out that for this to happen, "all other religious communities –- including Christians –- would have to be eliminated",the report says, "According to the RSS organization’s founder, M.S. Golwalker, that is exactly the plan: 'The non-Hindu people in Hindustan must either adopt the Hindu culture and language, must learn to respect and revere Hindu religion, must entertain no idea but the glorification of the Hindu religion...'"
It adds, "The first quarter of 2017 saw 248 persecution incidents wherein Christians were harassed, threatened or attacked for their faith. More recent records indicate the number of incidents in first six months of 2017 is now up to 410 incidents. This represents an enormous increase in persecution as there were only 441 incidents reported in 2016 for the entire year."
Noting that "these attacks can often be brutal", the report says, "In addition to beatings, there were also 37 incidents where Christians were socially boycotted. Others, according to 34 incident reports, were forced to leave their homes. Amongst these 34 cases, 14 of the incidents forced Christians to leave their village or cities entirely."
Pointing out that for this to happen, "all other religious communities –- including Christians –- would have to be eliminated",the report says, "According to the RSS organization’s founder, M.S. Golwalker, that is exactly the plan: 'The non-Hindu people in Hindustan must either adopt the Hindu culture and language, must learn to respect and revere Hindu religion, must entertain no idea but the glorification of the Hindu religion...'"
It adds, "The first quarter of 2017 saw 248 persecution incidents wherein Christians were harassed, threatened or attacked for their faith. More recent records indicate the number of incidents in first six months of 2017 is now up to 410 incidents. This represents an enormous increase in persecution as there were only 441 incidents reported in 2016 for the entire year."
Noting that "these attacks can often be brutal", the report says, "In addition to beatings, there were also 37 incidents where Christians were socially boycotted. Others, according to 34 incident reports, were forced to leave their homes. Amongst these 34 cases, 14 of the incidents forced Christians to leave their village or cities entirely."
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