Laws in 12 Indian states criminalize conversions deemed coerced or induced, while broadly casting suspicion on religious outreach and proselytism
News Desk
WASHINGTON: The Wall Street Journal has highlighted growing concerns over the treatment of religious minorities in India, reporting that Christians—who make up just 2.3% of the population—are increasingly being targeted under state-level “anti-conversion” laws.
These laws, enforced in 12 Indian states, criminalize conversion carried out through alleged coercion, fraud, or inducement, while broadly casting suspicion on religious outreach. Recent incidents have intensified scrutiny. In Uttar Pradesh, crowds gathered outside churches on Christmas Eve, shouting hate slogans against Christian missionaries, with local leaders such as Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath openly questioning the legitimacy of Christmas as a public holiday.
In Madhya Pradesh, videos circulated on social media showing a BJP-affiliated individual disrupting a Christmas service and attacking a blind woman, while in Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Christmas decorations in a shopping mall were vandalized, including statues of Santa Claus. Similar incidents have been reported across BJP-ruled states. Human rights groups have expressed concern over this pattern.
Citizens for Justice and Peace in India described the targeting of Christmas symbols as a deliberate statement that Christian identity is not socially acceptable. The United Christian Forum reports that attacks on Christians have risen sharply, from 139 incidents in 2014 to 834 in 2024, with 706 incidents recorded by November 2025.
International response has been critical. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended in its 2025 report that India be designated a “country of particular concern,” citing systemic violations of religious freedom and police inaction that allows perpetrators to operate with impunity.
Although Prime Minister Narendra Modi attended a Christmas service in New Delhi and called for harmony and love, critics argue that this was largely symbolic, as no substantive measures were announced to address those responsible for violence. Observers note that India’s secular framework, enshrined in the 1950 Constitution, has weakened over time, with many suggesting that silence from state leadership effectively condones these attacks.
