Peerzada Shakeel, a convert to Christianity from Islam was arrested along with his wife, Arifa, in Srinagar, Jammu and Kashmir on charges of forcible conversion on March 26, according to a March 31 report from Compass Direct. On March 21, local Muslims broke into Shakeel's house and beat him. They dragged him to a mosque where they beat him again when he told them he would worship only Christ. Shakeel's father, a local mosque member, then brought false charges of forced conversions against him because he refused to deny Christ.
Shakeel and his wife were arrested and taken to a police station at Sonwar, Srinagar. Although the couple was released on bail the following day, they remain under house arrest. Shakeel has faced severe opposition from his family and community since he became a Christian in 2006.
Pray that Shakeel and Arifa will not give in to fear but be enabled by God to stand in His grace and remain faithful in the face of societal rejection and hostility for their Christian faith (1 Peter 5:10-12).
For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, go to the India Country Report.
VOMC assists persecuted Christians with legal support and rehabilitation assistance, and cares for children of martyrs by providing them with a safe place to be nurtured physical and spiritually. VOMC also partners to equip Christians in India with Biblical training and works to strengthen and support marginalized and persecuted Christian women. Additionally, VOMC helps to provide medical assistance to believers who have faced injuries after being attacked.”
Ethnicity (%) Indo-Aryan (72), Dravidian (25), other (3)
Religion (%) Hinduism (79.8), Muslim (14.2), Christianity (2.3), Sikh (1.7), other (2)
Leader President Droupadi Murmu (2022)
Government type Federal parliamentary republic
Legal system Based on English common law; separate personal law codes apply to Christians, Hindus and Muslims.
Source: CIA World Factbook
Pray for India
Despite the intimidation and violence that have taken place in many of India's states, may Christians wisely yet unashamedly preach the Gospel. Pray that indigenous Christians and foreign missionaries will minister in ways that do not hint at fraudulent conversions, unmasking the intentions behind the anti-conversion legislation. Intercede for India's leaders, that they may reign with justice and righteousness.
The Supreme Court of India. Photo: Wikimedia / Subhashish Panigrahi (CC)
A ruling issued on October 17th by India's Supreme Court has brought relief to several believers in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The court reviewed multiple cases filed against Christians under the state's anti-conversion law and ultimately dismissed all charges, stating that "the criminal law cannot be allowed to be made a tool of harassment of innocent persons."
A bus in India. Photo: Wikimedia / Parambikulam Tiger Conservation Foundation (CC)
Two recent incidents in the union territory of Jammu and Kashmir (located within India's larger Kashmir region) demonstrate the growing challenges faced by those sharing the Gospel in northern India.
A village in India. Photo: Wikimedia / Nikhil More (CC)
Three years ago, "Sameer" (whose name has been changed for security reasons) came to faith in Jesus after witnessing his wife's miraculous healing from a life-threatening health condition. "That day, we knew the love and power of God," he recounts, "and we gave our lives to Christ." Following their decisions, however, the new believers began to experience opposition from unapproving members of their community.
In October 2021, Pastor Nandan Singh was gathered with 25 other Christians for an all-night prayer meeting when militant Hindus, primarily from nearby villages, stormed into his home. Accused of converting people to Christianity, Pastor Nandan became the first individual to be charged under Uttarakhand's anti-conversion legislation.
Population
