On February 24, Gospel for Asia reported on a serious situation facing a pastor and his church in Rajasthan, India. Apparently the believers are being blamed for the death of a local Christian named Samuel. As the church was preparing to hold a funeral for him, a mob stopped the pastor and demanded that he raise Samuel from the dead or they would kill every Christian in the village. The mob then demanded that Samuel's brother perform a traditional funeral ritual which he refused to do. The pastor is asking for prayer for wisdom in this situation. Pray also for Samuel's family during this very difficult time.
On February 18, the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported on eight women who were beaten and humiliated in an attempt to force them to deny their faith and return to Hinduism in Orissa, India. (see https://www.vomcanada.com/in-2004-02-18.htm). A February 20 press release from the All India Christian Council, states that their investigations showed that local police had not only witnessed the attacks, but had been active participants. The Council is calling for a Judicial Review of this situation, as well as four other recent incidents. Speaking of the eight women, the council said, "They are emotionally shattered.... The tears of the women cry out for justice. Not just the artificial peace that the police and administration are trying to enforce by further terrorizing the Christians, but also a peace where the villagers can all live together while practicing the religions of their choice, a right given them under the Constitution."
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Christians in India are concerned about the increasing pressure by Hindu groups, including the ruling BJP party. With elections expected in April 2004, the BJP is hoping to increase its grasp on power, aiming toward a two-thirds majority in order to change the country's constitution. Already the militant Hindu influence of their supporters has been increasing in areas such as the media, school curriculum and anti-conversion laws in several states.
Pray that Christians and other religious minorities in India will be free to practice their religion in this country where eighty percent of the population is Hindu. Pray that international governments will put pressure on the Indian government to increase the protection of religious rights in the most populous democracy in the world.
For more information on trials facing Christians in India, go to https://www.vomcanada.com/india.htm.
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