Organised refusal to bury Christian dead 'highlights' escalating persecution in India

By A Representative 

A disturbing new trend has emerged in India: organised refusals to allow Christian families to bury their dead, adding to a climate of hostility and violence that has left the Christian community deeply alarmed. Fact-finding teams and rights groups report that in states like Odisha, tribal Hindu groups have repeatedly obstructed Christian funerals, claiming they violate local traditions. In several recent cases, only the intervention of police allowed burial rites to proceed.

This is part of a broader surge in anti-Christian violence and discrimination. Data from the Evangelical Fellowship of India and the United Christian Forum show that over 840 incidents of violence against Christians were reported in 2024, with 640 cases verified. The first months of 2025 have seen over 120 new cases, with 245 incidents reported between January and April alone. The violence includes physical attacks on clergy and worshippers, vandalism of churches, social boycotts, denial of burial rights, and arbitrary arrests under anti-conversion laws.

A C Michael, National Coordinator of the United Christian Forum and former member of the Delhi Minorities Commission, described the situation as “the most traumatic in the life of the Christian community in India.” He said,

“Each statistic tells a heartbreaking story – one more devastating than the next – a family torn apart, a church forced into hiding, a believer unjustly imprisoned for their faith. The refusal to allow Christian families to bury their dead is not just a denial of dignity in death, but a calculated attempt to silence our faith and erode our constitutional rights.”

Rights activists warn that fabricated police complaints (FIRs) are increasingly being used to target Christians, often filed by individuals unconnected to the alleged incidents. In 2024, at least 197 FIRs were lodged against Christians, including 128 under anti-conversion statutes. There were 724 instances of imprisonment or detention, including 129 pastors arrested. Reports also document cases of forced conversion to Hinduism and social boycotts, primarily in Chhattisgarh.

Michael further urged authorities to intervene, stating,

“We are witnessing an organised system designed to intimidate and marginalise Christians, with fabricated FIRs and increasing violence. It is imperative that the government upholds the rule of law and protects the fundamental rights of all citizens, regardless of their faith.”

The escalation in violence and discrimination is especially pronounced in states like Uttar Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Rajasthan, and Odisha, where Christians face daily threats to their safety and religious freedom. The refusal to allow Christian burials, coupled with attacks on churches and worshippers, underscores what community leaders describe as a systematic effort to silence faith and marginalise minorities.

Christian leaders and human rights groups are calling for urgent intervention to uphold constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and to ensure the safety, dignity, and basic rights—including burial rites—of India’s Christian community.