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India

• EMI Leaders Face New Charges

  Authorities in the Kota district of Rajasthan, India have reportedly brought new charges against Emmanuel Mission International (EMI) leaders. EMI founder, Archbishop M.A. Thomas, and his son, Dr. Samuel Thomas, EMI president, have been charged with "exciting... disaffection towards the government of India." These charges stem from a map found on the website of Georgia-based Hopegivers International, the funding organization for EMI. The map excluded the states of Jammu and Kashmir. Conviction under these charges could result in life imprisonment. Both men remain on bail at present.

• Two Christian Women Gang Raped

  After receiving encouragement from the head of their village, as many as ten men from Nadia, Madhya Pradesh raped two Christian women after the husband of one of the women refused to deny Christ. Reports from the village vary but according to a June 2 report from Compass Direct, Gokharya Barela was beaten by local villagers on May 28 and then taken to the nearby village of Sirvil, where the village court demanded that he forsake his faith. When he refused to do so, the village head ordered that Barela be forced to drink wine. He then told the villagers that they were free to rape Christian women without fear of repercussions. That evening, Barela's wife and another Christian woman were raped by several of the villagers. When Barela and others attempted to intervene, they were beaten.

  The following morning, local leaders of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) filed charges against missionaries from neighbouring Maharashtra state for carrying out "mass conversions to Christianity." While no missionary was named, the BJP leaders mentioned the Christians attacked the previous day.

  When the Christians went to the Bhagwanpura police station to report on what had happened to them, they were arrested and jailed for a day.  At a press conference, one of the rape victims said, "Police say that our complaint is fake. They don't listen to us. We have nowhere to go." The women were able to name their alleged rapists but, at last report, none have been arrested. This brutal attack is widely seen as punishment by Hindu militants for converting from Hinduism to Christianity.

  Pray that the Christians affected by this tragedy will entrust true justice to the hand of God (Romans 12:17-21). Pray that these believers will remain steadfast in the faith (1 Peter 5:8-10). Ask God to give them healing from the emotional and physical scars of these attacks and fill their hearts with His love (Matthew 5:43-44). Pray that the authorities will bring the attackers to justice.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here.

• Christian Family Driven Out by Animists

  A family from the village of Dubalia in the Indian state of Jharkhand was forced from their home and driven from their village, according to a May 26 report from Compass Direct. Animists in the village were opposed the presence of Santosh Karmali and his family because they believed that they "polluted the atmosphere of the village." 

  Santosh was forced to sign an agreement on May 21 that obliged him to forfeit his family's land.  His wife, Shiva Devi was tonsured (shaved) and lime powder was applied to her face. She was then paraded around the village before the villagers chased the couple and their three sons, Amar, Vikram and Preetam, out of the village. Santosh's father and mother were among those who drove them from Dubalia.

  Santosh and his family are recent converts from animism. They have been barred from ever returning to their village.

  Pray that Santosh Karmali and his family will find comfort in the fact that their Heavenly Father accepts them as His own, even when everyone else has rejected them (Psalm 27:10). Pray that Santosh and his family will be encouraged and strengthened in their new faith. Pray for the salvation of Santosh's father and mother.

  For more information on the persecution facing Christians in India,click here.

• Rajasthan's Governor Refuses to Sign Anti-Conversion Bill

  Rajasthan's governor, Pratibha Patil

  On April 12, the Persecution and Prayer Alert reported that anti-conversion legislation had passed the Rajasthan state legislature and would come into effect once details had been worked out (click here for more details). What was unforeseen was a move on May 19 by the state governor, Pratibha Patil, who refused to sign the bill into law, saying that it would violate religious freedom.  Upon returning the bill to the state assembly, the governor said the bill could be referred to India's president if the assembly so desired. While Rajasthan's government is controlled by the Hindu-based Bharatiya Janata Party, the federal government is controlled by the more secular United Progressive Alliance.

  "We are happy that the governor took a bold step," said Dr. Joseph D'souza, president of the All India Christian Council. Praise the Lord that Governor Patil has listened to the concerns of religious minorities in her state and has stopped this legislation. Continue to pray for religious equality in India.

  Be sure to receive next month's edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter which features the persecution to India's Christians. Subscribe today on our newsletter page. VOMC is also pleased to offer for sale Joseph D'souza's book, "Dalit Freedom," online for only $10.00.  Go to our online catalogue for more details.

• Woman Accuses Her Family of Forcible Conversion

  A woman in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India has accused six of her uncles and their pastor of trying to forcefully convert her to Christianity.  According to a May 11 report from Compass Direct, the men claim that the accusations stem from a dispute over a drainage channel that flows by her door. They allege that, rather than trying to resolve the immediate issue, Saroj Maurya went to the local newspapers and accused her uncles and their pastor, Mehboob Masih, of attempting to force her to convert to Christianity.

  As a result of the accusations, the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a campaign against Pastor Masih. On May 6, three local BJP leaders threatened to kill him if he did not stop holding prayer meetings in his home. Later that day, a senior police officer ordered Masih not to hold the prayer meeting the following day and said police would not be responsible if any "untoward incident" took place. He also threatened to arrest Masih if there were any disturbances.  When Masih filed a complaint with the authorities on May 7, the police refused to give him a signed copy of his complaint as required by law. Instead, they informed him that a forcible conversion case had been filed against him.

  Pray that these men will maintain the attitude of Christ, entrusting themselves to God Who judges perfectly (I Peter 5:1-4). Ask the Lord to protect Pastor Masih from any attempts on his life. Also ask God to give him wisdom as he provides spiritual leadership to these believers (James 1:5). Pray that the prayer meetings will continue uninterrupted.

  For more information on the persecution facing Christians in India,click here.  A newly-released video report on the trials facing Christians in India is available at https://www.vomcanada.com/.

• Hindu Militants Attack Church Accused of Forcible Conversions

  On May 14, Hindu militants beat a recent convert and the pastor of an independent church in Jabalpur, India and vandalized the building following the worship service, according to a May 15 report from Compass Direct.

  About fifty members of the militant organization Dharam Jagran Sena threw stones at the Anant Jeevan Marg church before entering the building. They damaged furniture and equipment and beat Dinanath Tiwari, a former Hindu who had recently come to faith in Christ after his wife was cured of cancer.  The militants then roughed up Pastor Munnu Kujur and threatened to throw acid in his face and bomb his church if he did not stop converting Hindus to Christianity.  The mob took Kujur to the police station where he was charged under Madhya Pradesh's anti-conversion legislation. He was only released from custody after the Christian Legal Association of India intervened.  Tiwari has filed a counter-claim against four of the militants for their attack on him.

  Pray that Dinanath's young faith will be strengthened through the trials that he has endured (James 1:1-4). Pray that this congregation will trust God to enable them to proclaim the Gospel regardless of what their opponents might say or do. (2 Timothy 4:16-18). Pray that Pastor Kujur know God's wisdom as he faces these charges.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here. The June edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter will feature testimonies and reports of the courage and suffering of our brothers and sisters in India. To subscribe today, go to our newsletter page.

• Easter Service Forced to Stop

  The Easter season in 2006 saw a number of instances of violence against Christians in India (click here for examples).  A May 4 report from All India Christian Council gives details of yet another incident in the state of Punjab on Easter Sunday, April 16. 

  As Christians gathered in the home of Pastor Kulwanth Singh in Bathinda, a group claiming to belong to the militant groups RSS and Bajrang Dal entered and demanded that the service stop. The militants threatened severe consequences if there is any further Christian gathering in Bathinda.

  Pastor Singh attempted to report the incident to the police but the station officer refused to file their complaint. Pastor Singh went to the office of the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) where he was rebuked for holding the service. After further appeals, two militants were eventually arrested but released the same day.  Pastor Singh has repeatedly tried to contact the SSP but has been ignored.  

  Pray that Pastor Singh and his congregation will know that the Body of Christ around the world shares in their difficulties. Pray that they will be a reflection of the Heavenly Father's love for their persecutors (Matthew 5:43-44). Pray that the threats of their enemies will come to nothing.

  For more information on the persecution of Christians in India,click here. 

• Police Plant Evidence to Charge Christian

  Police in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh state appear to have collaborated with Hindu militants in order to bring charges of forcible conversion against a Christian social worker, according to a May 4 report from Compass Direct. Sunil Kumar Rao, a social worker for the Child Labour Project in the Gwarighat and Jilhari villages of Jabalpur, was teaching a class of twenty children when police interrupted his lesson, looking for evidence that he was attempting to convert the children to Christianity. When nothing was found to confirm the accusation, Rao was taken to the police station. In front of media and some of his accusers, police then pulled literature from his bag that was not initially there.  After giving his statement, Rao was released on bail.

  On May 2, also in Jabalpur, a sixty-year-old pastor was accosted and repeatedly slapped by members of the militant Hindu organization, Bajrang Dal, after they found him distributing Christian literature near the train station. A report was then filed with the police that Pastor Soni was offering people money to convert to Christianity.  Soni has since been released on bail.

  Pray that Rao will remain patient and faithful in the face of false accusations, entrusting the final outcome to the Supreme Judge (Romans 12:9-21). Pray that Pastor Soni will be strengthened to rejoice in God's love and glorify Him in the face of suffering (Ephesians 3:14-21). Pray that God will give both of these men wisdom to know how to respond to the false accusations they are charged with. Pray that their enemies will see Christ in them and glorify the Heavenly Father (Matthew 5:14-16).

  For more information on the persecution facing Christian in India,click here. The June edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter will feature testimonies and reports of the courage and suffering of our brothers and sisters in India. To subscribe today, go to our newsletter page.

• Dr. Samuel Thomas Granted Bail

  Dr. Samuel Thomas

  After forty-seven days in custody, Dr. Samuel Thomas, president of Emmanuel Mission International (also known as Hopegivers International), has been granted bail. Thomas was arrested on March 16 and charged with offending religious sentiments. For more information on the persecution of Christians in India, visit India's Country Report.
• Christian Leaders Arrested for Fraudulent Conversion

  Supported by Hindu militants, Indian police arrested a pastor and six other church leaders in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh on April 18 on charges of "fraudulent conversion," according to Compass Direct. 

  While members of the militant Hindu organization Bajrang Dal chanted outside the door, police barged into the home of Avinash Lal, an independent Pentecostal pastor, around 8:30 p.m. They manhandled Pastor Lal and six other church leaders, shouting abuse and pounding the furniture with their batons.  Accusing the Christians of illegal conversions, the police tore up Bibles, slapped Lal, grabbed another leader by the hair and a third by his ears. They were then taken to the Barela police station where they remained until midnight, when they were released on bail. Indira Iyengar, president of the Madhya Pradesh Christian Association, was told by authorities that the seven were under investigation for illegal prayer meetings.

  Pray for wisdom for these leaders, as they deal with these accusations.  Pray that they will have the words to say as they stand before their accusers (Luke 12:11-12).  Pray that these seven men will keep their eyes on Jesus, persevere in their faith, and not grow weary or lose heart (Hebrews 10:32-39; Hebrews 12:1-3).

  For more information on the persecution facing Christians in India,click here. The feature article of the June edition of The Voice of the Martyrs Newsletter focuses on the trials and courage of Christian believers in India and the rising persecution they face. Click here to subscribe today.