#HateCrimes against #Christian churches and individuals continues to rise. #Hindutva groups take advantage of #lockdown due to the #pandemic and are working with impunity.

#Christophobia @USCIRF @IRF_Ambassador @hrw @efirlc https://frontline.thehindu.com/the-nation/christians-as-target/article32284946.ece

“We thought attacks on Christians would die down during the lockdown when businesses, markets, schools and colleges were closed. When nobody would venture out. But we were mistaken. The attacks on Christians increased during the lockdown... +

... There were 33 attacks in March and 21 in June. There has been a further increase in July,” said @vijayeshl, Secretary, @EFI_Tweets

“Over the past seven years, India has risen from No. 31 to No. 10 in the ‘Open Doors’ World Watch List, ranking just behind Iran in persecution severity. As of 2020, the @USCIRF USCIRF has listed India as a CPC (Country of Particular Concern),” says Shibu Thomas of @PersecutionR

“With the courts being virtually closed and the police failing to record all complaints, the access to justice is severely restricted,” the [EFI] report says.

Incidentally, both [EFI and Persecution Relief] reports claimed that the most number of attacks against Christians took place under #YogiAdityanath’s rule in #UttarPradesh.

“It is difficult to control attacks these days. THE POISON HAS REACHED VERY DEEP, RIGHT UP TO THE GRASS-ROOTS LEVEL. Until a few years back, there was only the #BajrangDal whose members were often involved in such attacks. Now new bodies have mushroomed,” says Lal

Apparently, groups like #AbhinavBharat, #ModiSena, #AmarSena, and #DharmSena have a crucial role in many of the recent incidents. Their volunteers go to almost every lane, every village, and speak about #conversion to whip up an anti-minority atmosphere.

“The RSS has percolated to the grass-roots level. Until 1990 or so, the term conversion was not heard of in everyday life except maybe in the Sangh circles. But today, a mere mention of the word Christian evokes images of conversion...

...It is due to sustained indoctrination over a long period of time. The lockdown attacks are a manifestation of that indoctrination.”

“While the churches have often been attacked in the past, now it is becoming increasingly difficult even to offer prayers even in private. There are objections to Sunday prayers at home...+

...The malaise is much deeper in the interiors and tribal areas. Even a regular prayer is considered a step towards conversion. First a prayer is attacked. Then a social boycott follows,” says Lal

5 murders of Christians in the COVID-impacted first 6 months of 2020 mark a new high in the viciousness of targeted hate against the community. Not since the pogrom in 2007-08 in #Kandhamal district of Odisha have so many people died for professing the Christian faith @JohnDayal