A People's Tribunal on Violence Against Christians in India, organized by Karwan-e-Mohabbat and a collective of concerned citizens, heard testimonies from survivors, community representatives, researchers, lawyers, and human rights defenders regarding alleged violence and discrimination against Christians in several states. The tribunal was held at the Constitution Club in New Delhi on June 1.
The event marked the culmination of a broader inquiry that included field visits and hearings in Chhattisgarh in April and Odisha in May. Tribunal members reported meeting hundreds of affected persons and documenting cases involving violence, social exclusion, and denial of constitutional rights, particularly among Adivasi and Dalit Christian communities.
The Delhi hearing received testimonies from representatives and survivors from Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, and Odisha. Discussions focused on attacks on churches and prayer meetings, social and economic boycotts, denial of burial rights, displacement from villages, and the alleged role of state institutions and Hindutva organizations.
Opening the proceedings, John Dayal placed contemporary incidents in the context of earlier attacks on Christians, including the killing of Graham Staines and his two sons and the violence in Kandhamal. He expressed concern about threats to constitutional guarantees of religious freedom and equal citizenship.
The tribunal also screened a documentary produced by Karwan-e-Mohabbat documenting incidents involving Christians in Madhya Pradesh. Based on a fact-finding visit conducted in May across six districts—Jhabua, Burhanpur, Indore, Dhar, Khandwa, and Sehore—the film presented testimonies from survivors and families affected by attacks on prayer meetings, arrests under anti-conversion laws, social ostracism, and alleged intimidation.
Presenting an overview of anti-Christian violence, Vijayesh Lal cited what he described as a significant increase in reported incidents over the past decade. He argued that allegations of religious conversion were frequently used to justify attacks and highlighted concerns over denial of burial rights.
A. C. Michael spoke about what he described as growing hostility toward Christian prayer meetings and places of worship. He also expressed concern about the absence of Christian representation in certain statutory minority institutions.
Addressing issues of social exclusion, Siju Thomas highlighted cases of social and economic boycotts, expulsions, and ostracism, particularly among newly converted Christian families. He also alleged misuse of laws intended to protect Adivasi communities, including the Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act (PESA), against Christian Adivasis.
Father Ajay Singh presented testimonies relating to denial of burial rights, alleging that funeral processions had been obstructed and access to burial grounds denied in several cases.
From Chhattisgarh, Degree Chouhan raised concerns about the gap between reported incidents and official responses, citing low numbers of First Information Reports (FIRs), delayed investigations, and alleged police inaction.
The tribunal also heard survivor accounts describing attacks on prayer meetings, arrests under anti-conversion laws, social boycotts, forced displacement, closure of places of worship, and economic hardship. Several testimonies focused on the vulnerability of house churches and small congregations in rural and tribal areas.
Participants repeatedly raised concerns about the conduct of state institutions, alleging failures by police to protect victims, delays in investigations, and difficulties in accessing legal remedies. Questions were also raised about the implementation of anti-conversion laws in several states.
In their concluding observations, tribunal members emphasized the need for public engagement and institutional accountability. Senior journalist Pamela Philipose described the testimonies as evidence of troubling social conditions and called for greater solidarity with affected communities.
Irfan Ali Engineer highlighted the courage of survivors who testified despite fears of intimidation and cautioned against narratives that, in his view, are used to justify discrimination.
Vidya Dinker urged churches and religious institutions to provide stronger support to affected communities, while Syeda Hameed described the denial of burial rights as among the most degrading forms of discrimination documented during the hearings.
John Dayal argued that the testimonies pointed to broader patterns of institutional failure, while historian Tanika Sarkar warned against the normalization of majoritarian intolerance and shrinking space for religious freedom.
Concluding the proceedings, Harsh Mander said the incidents presented before the tribunal reflected what he described as a systematic pattern of exclusion rather than isolated acts. He called on citizens, institutions, and governments to act to safeguard constitutional protections and equal citizenship for all communities.
The organizers stated that the findings and testimonies presented before the tribunal would contribute to a broader effort to document and address concerns regarding religious freedom, discrimination, and minority rights in India.
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