By Rita Joseph
Violence against Christians is “normalised and systemic” in some Indian states where they are subjected to widespread hate crimes, social boycott, arbitrary arrests and denial of burial rights, according to a citizens’ tribunal.
The tribunal warned that “when institutions entrusted with protecting constitutional rights fail to act, discrimination becomes normalised and systemic”.
The Tribunal on Violence Against Christians in India was convened by Karwan-e-Mohabbat (“Caravan of Love”) – a civilian group of peace activists – in New Delhi on 2 June, comprising survivors, rights activists, researchers and others shared evidence of discrimination.
They spoke of social boycotts, forced displacement, ostracisation and denial of worship and burial rights, among other threats the community faces across Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat and Odisha states.
The participants expressed concern over the failure of the state and judiciary to provide safety to minorities.
Veteran journalist and rights activists John Dayal expressed concern that judicial and legislative developments in recent decades had, in many instances, failed to provide adequate protection to vulnerable minorities.
Some of the tribunal members made a fact-finding visit to the most-affected states of Chhattisgarh and Odisha in April-May this year. They met with hundreds of affected people besides lawyers, researchers and human rights defenders who described escalating hostility, particularly against Christians from tribal and Dalit background.
The team, comprising prominent rights activists and journalists, warned that constitutional guarantees of freedom of conscience, religious liberty and equal citizenship were facing unprecedented challenges.
“Survivors alleged instances where police failed to protect victims, delayed investigations, registered cases against those who had been attacked, or encouraged informal settlements rather than legal action,” they said.
Rights activist Degree Chouhan from Chhattisgarh told the tribunal that the number of police reports registered were disproportionate to the hundreds of incidents reported. He raised concerns over delayed investigations and police inaction.
Fr Ajay Kumar Singh from Odisha recounted cases where “funeral processions were obstructed, burial in village graveyards was denied, and even the bodies of deceased Christians were exhumed from their village graveyards and buried far away against the wishes of their families”.
This story was originally published in thetablet.co.uk. Read the full story here.