Country Advice India – IND37621 – – Gurdaspur –

Christians – Hindu extremists – Gospel for Asia – Rhema Church of India – Communal violence – State protection – Internal relocation – Indians in Singapore 3 November 2010

1. Deleted.

2. Please provide information about the Gospel Church of Asia in the area of Gurdaspur, such as any known information about the number of churches and names of any pastors etc.

A Christian organisation called Gospel for Asia works in most Indian states, including Punjab.1 Gospel for Asia was founded by Indian-born Dr. K.P. Yohannan in 1979. Since then, it “has become an effective mission movement with several thousand workers in 11 Asia [sic] nations”.2

It is unclear whether Gospel for Asia is present in Gurdaspur specifically. No specific information was found regarding Gospel for Asia‟s churches or church leaders in Gurdaspur.

A 2008 article in The Tribune named a number of Christian leaders from Gurdaspur and districts who addressed a protest rally against attacks on Christians by Hindu fundamentalists. However, it is unclear if any of these leaders are from Gospel for Asia.3

3. What is the current situation for Christians in Gurdaspur particularly and the Punjab more generally?

There is some conflicting information about the size of the Christian population in Gurdaspur and Punjab. In March 2010, the All India Christian Council (AICC) estimated Punjab‟s Christian population to be approximately 300,000, which constitutes 1.2 percent

1 „Where We Work: Country and State Profiles‟ (undated), Gospel for Asia website http://www.gfa.org/countryprofiles/ – Accessed 26 October 2010 – Attachment 6 2 „About K.P. Yohannan‟ (undated), Gospel for Asia website http://www.gfa.org/about/aboutkp/ – Accessed 26 October 2010 – Attachment 7 3 „Christians hold protest march‟ 2008, The Tribune, 7 September http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080907/punjab1.htm#12 – Accessed 6 March 2009 – Attachment 8

Page 1 of 13 of the state‟s population. The AICC reports that Christians are predominantly located in villages in western Punjab, and in Amritsar, a district bordering Gurdaspur (see Map 2).4

Map 2: within Punjab

Thaindian News reported in May 2009 that there are 150,000 Christian constituents in the Lok Sabha (lower house) seat of Gurdaspur, which is known for its “sizeable Christian population”. In the same article, Kanwal Bakshi, state president of Punjab‟s United Christian Front (UCF) stated that “[i]n Punjab, there are around 900,000 Christian voters and the largest chunk, 17 percent, reside in Gurdaspur district. Here their number is over 150,000. After Gurdaspur, maximum Christian voters are in Amritsar, Ferozepur and districts”.5

In February 2010, Father Michael Anikuzhikattil, parish priest of Gurdaspur, stated that Christians “form 25 percent of the district‟s population”.6

4 All India Christian Council 2010, „Report of the All India Christian Council Fact Finding Team On Incidents in and Other Areas of Punjab 18-21 February 2010‟, All India Christian Council website, 2 March http://indianchristians.in/news/images/resources/pdf/aicc%20FFT%20report%20on%20Feb%202010%20Punjab %20-%20executive%20summary.pdf – Accessed 26 October 2010 – Attachment 9 5 Sharma, A. 2009, „A Punjab seat where Christians are important‟, Thaindian News, 9 May http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/a-punjab-seat-where-christians-are-important_100190156.html – Accessed 27 October 2010 – Attachment 10 6 „ caricature outrages Christians‟ 2010, Union of Catholic Asian News website, 22 February http://www.ucanews.com/2010/02/22/jesus-caricature-outrages-christians-in-punjab/ – Accessed 26 October 2010 – Attachment 11

Page 2 of 13 Treatment of Christians in Gurdaspur

A July 2010 article on the Church News Site website reports the detention of 12 Christians in Gurdaspur “after Hindu extremists allegedly from the Bajrang Dal filed a complaint against them of forceful conversion”. The Hindu extremists were reportedly opposed to the Christians visiting people in their homes. They verbally and physically abused the Christians before taking them to the police station, where they “pressured the police to file a case against [them]”. The Christians were released without charge following demands from Christian leaders.7

Prior to the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Thaindian News reported that the seat of Gurdaspur, then held by Vinod Khanna of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), was “known for being one of the most backward constituencies in Punjab”. In discussing the demands of the Christian community leading up to the elections, Kanwal Bakshi of Punjab‟s UCF highlighted the BJP‟s anti-Christian policies and called for reservation in state government jobs for Christians. Partap Singh Bajwa, Indian National Congress (INC) candidate for the Gurdaspur seat stated that he supports these demands. Bajwa further stated that the situation for Punjabi Christians “is really bad and they are forced to suffer as there are no schemes for their upliftment”.8 In the 2009 Lok Sabha elections, Bajwa defeated Vinod Khanna by 8342 votes.9

In 2008, Partap Singh Bajwa called for a ban on Hindu extremist groups Bajrang Dal and Vishaw Hindu Parishad (VHP) for the recent anti-Christian attacks in the state of Orissa. Christians in Gurdaspur held silent protests following the attacks. Bajwa also reported that a Christian family in Gurdaspur was prevented from burying deceased relatives by Bajrang Dal and the VHP, and was only allowed to do so after intervention by the local court.10

Further, more dated sources relating to the treatment of Christians by Hindu extremist groups in Gurdaspur are referred to in RRT Research Response IND34497 of 10 March 2009.11

Treatment of Christians in Punjab

In March 2010, the AICC reported “widespread discrimination against Punjab‟s Christian minority”. At a National Integration Council meeting in October 2008, AICC Secretary- General and council member, Dr. John Dayal, briefed Punjab “Chief Minister Sardar

7 „Christians attacked in Punjab, Arrested in MP & Order to quit in JK‟ 2010, Church News Site website, 20 July http://www.churchnewssite.com/portal/?p=23095 – Accessed 27 October 2010 – Attachment 12 8 Sharma, A. 2009, „A Punjab seat where Christians are important‟, Thaindian News, 9 May http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/a-punjab-seat-where-christians-are-important_100190156.html – Accessed 27 October 2010 – Attachment 10 9 „Punjab Lok Sabha Constituency Elections Results 2009 Gurdaspur‟ 2009, India Elections website http://www.indiaelections.co.in/lok-sabha-constituencies/punjab/gurdaspur/ – Accessed 29 October 2010 – Attachment 13 10 „Ban organizations behind violence in Orissa‟ 2008, Times of India, 4 September http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chandigarh/Ban_organizations_behind_violence_in_Orissa_/articleshow/344 2274.cms – Accessed 6 March 2009 – Attachment 14 11 RRT Research & Information 2009, Research Response IND34497, 10 March – Attachment 15

Page 3 of 13 Prakash Singh Badal on the tension brewing in [western Punjab], where [Christians] are suffering from caste oppression and attacks on their freedom of faith”.12

The AICC reports that in Punjab, requests for permission to hold church meetings are routinely denied, and Christians are often described in derogatory caste terms. In addition, Christians are significantly underrepresented in the Punjab government. The few Christian leaders in the Akali Dal, BJP, and INC parties “have little connection with the masses living in villages, slums and poorly constructed ghettos outside some villages”. The majority of Christians in Punjab are Dalits („untouchables‟) and, as such, experience both class and caste barriers in many villages. Nevertheless, some Christians “have risen to high positions in academics, the military, and the Church”.13

A September 2008 article on the AICC website states that prior to the formation of the Akali Dal and BJP coalition government in Punjab, Hindu fundamentalist groups “would either attack Christians directly or use the media to accuse the Christians of [c]onversion”. More recently, members of BJP, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Bajrang Dal, Shiv Sena and VHP “have started using some of the members of the Sikh Community against Christians”. In one incident, three Christians were arrested “on charges of burning the Sikh Holy Scriptures” and detained for five days before being bailed. A court case has been registered against them. A Christian convert was arrested on the same charges, without evidence, and was later released on bail. In addition, a group of pastors from various districts submitted a report to police describing “cases of Christians being falsely implicated”.14

A list of attacks on Christians in 2008 prepared by the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) reported only one attack in Punjab. No further details about this attack are provided.15 A December 2008 article on the AICC website reported that members of Bajrang Dal had falsely accused a group of Bible College students of forcibly converting to . The Bajrang Dal members assaulted the students in Sangur, Punjab while they were distributing Bible literature, before taking them to Sangur police station. The students were released after the AICC intervened. The police reportedly “warned Bajrang Dal members not to bring false allegations”.16

Additionally, following anti-Christian violence in Orissa and Karnataka states in 2008, speakers at Christian protest rallies in other states indicated that “while the situation was comparatively peaceful in Punjab and states and the Union territory of

12 „Police Inaction Over Attempted Murders in Recent Punjab Anti-Christian Violence‟ 2010, All India Christian Council website, 2 March http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/3954/42/ – Accessed 26 October 2010 – Attachment 16 13 All India Christian Council 2010, „Report of the All India Christian Council Fact Finding Team On Incidents in Batala and Other Areas of Punjab 18-21 February 2010‟, All India Christian Council website, 2 March http://indianchristians.in/news/images/resources/pdf/aicc%20FFT%20report%20on%20Feb%202010%20Punjab %20-%20executive%20summary.pdf – Accessed 26 October 2010 – Attachment 9 14 All India Christian Council 2008, „New attacks in Orissa, Karnataka, Punjab, and Kerala‟, 21 September http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/2406/45/ – Accessed 22 January 2009 – Attachment 17 15 „Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) list of attacks- 2008‟ 2009, Persecution Update India website, 1 January http://persecution.in/archive/2009/1/1 – Accessed 16 April 2009 – Attachment 18 16 „Bajrang Dal falsely accused two Bible college students in Punjab and attempted an arrest‟ 2008, All India Christian Council website, 2 December http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/2642/45/ – Accessed 16 April 2009 – Attachment 19

Page 4 of 13 , reports had started coming in of communal gangs terrorising home churches and small congregations in small towns”.17

A November 2007 article on the International Christian Concern website reports “an attack on Christians by Hindu radicals in district in the state of Punjab”. In opposition to a prayer meeting held at the house of a Sikh convert to Christianity, activists from VHP and Bajrang Dal made “false allegations of forcible conversion”. The meeting was cancelled due to pressure from these groups.18 The US Department of State reported in 2009 that throughout India, “[t]he issue of conversion of Hindus or members of lower castes to Christianity remained highly sensitive and resulted in assaults and/or arrests of Christians. However, Christians often held large public prayer meetings without violence or protests”.19

Further information relating to the activities of Hindu extremist groups RSS, VHP, Bajrang Dal and Shiv Sena in Punjab is outlined in RRT Research Response IND34728 of 22 April 2009.20

4. Are there any reports of an incident in Gurdaspur or elsewhere in Punjab on 20 February 2010 relating to attacks on or mistreatment of Christians by Hindu groups or anyone else?

A number of reports highlight attacks on Christians by extremist Hindu groups in Batala, a town in the Gurdaspur district of Punjab, on 20 February 2010 (see Map 1). The violence followed Christian protests over banners depicting Jesus Christ drinking and smoking, used to advertise an upcoming Hindu festival. Christian youth reportedly shouted slogans at Hindu radicals, attempted to force an area-wide closure of markets, and looted shops. They were subsequently attacked by activists from Hindu extremist groups Bajrang Dal, Vishwa Hindu Parishad and Shiv Sena. It was reported that upon retaliation by Hindu radicals, Christian protest leaders “fled the scene”. The violence resulted in at least ten people injured, damage to several shops, and the destruction of local churches, at least one of which was burnt by Hindu extremists.21

17 „Massive Christian Rally Demands Justice, Security‟ 2008, South Asia Religious News, 25 November http://www.sarnews.in/details.php?n=910 – Accessed 6 March 2009 –Attachment 20 18 International Christian Concern 2007, „Punjab Hindu radicals attack Christians and shut down prayer service‟, Persecution.org website, 3 November http://www.persecution.org/suffering/newsdetail.php?newscode=4768 – Accessed 21 January 2009 – Attachment 21 19 US Department of State 2009, International Religious Freedom Report for 2009 – India, 26 October, Section III – Attachment 22 20 RRT Research & Information 2009, Research Response IND34728, 22 April – Attachment 23 21 „Attacks in Punjab, India Similar to Orissa Mayhem, Report Says‟ 2010, Compass Direct News, 3 March http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/india/15915/ – Accessed 27 October 2010 – Attachment 24; „Jesus caricature outrages Christians‟ 2010, Union of Catholic Asian News website, 22 February http://www.ucanews.com/2010/02/22/jesus-caricature-outrages-christians-in-punjab/ – Accessed 26 October 2010 – Attachment 11; Carvalho, N. 2010, „Punjab: clashes between Christians and Hindu extremists, Protestant church burned‟, AsiaNews, 22 February http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Punjab:-clashes-between-Christians- and-Hindu-extremists,-Protestant-church-burned-17691.html – Accessed 26 October 2010 – Attachment 25

Page 5 of 13

Map 1: Dinanagar within the Gurdaspur district

A fact-finding mission carried out by the All India Christian Council (AICC) found that a group of attackers burnt the (CNI)‟s Church of the Epiphany, attempted to destroy the Salvation Army church, and attacked its pastor. The attackers also attempted to set church leaders and their families on fire. The AICC has likened the violence to the large-scale anti-Christian attacks in Orissa state in 2007 and 2008.22

In response to the violent clashes, authorities in Batala imposed a curfew, which was partially removed two days later. The Chief Minister of Punjab, Parkash Singh Badal, reportedly condemned the depiction of Jesus as offensive and provided police with specific guidelines to punish those guilty of provoking sectarian violence. Some Hindu organisations have also described the image as insulting and called for the arrest of “those who would hurt the sentiments of Christian community”.23 Nevertheless, it reportedly took the police two days to arrest those responsible for displaying the banners and causing the violence. The police also arrested Christian youths and allegedly assaulted the protesters.24

22 „Attacks in Punjab, India Similar to Orissa Mayhem, Report Says‟ 2010, Compass Direct News, 3 March http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/india/15915/ – Accessed 27 October 2010 – Attachment 24 23 Carvalho, N. 2010, „Punjab: clashes between Christians and Hindu extremists, Protestant church burned‟, AsiaNews, 22 February http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Punjab:-clashes-between-Christians-and-Hindu- extremists,-Protestant-church-burned-17691.html – Accessed 26 October 2010 – Attachment 25 24 „Jesus caricature outrages Christians‟ 2010, Union of Catholic Asian News website, 22 February http://www.ucanews.com/2010/02/22/jesus-caricature-outrages-christians-in-punjab/ – Accessed 26 October 2010 – Attachment 11

Page 6 of 13 The AICC reports that “police were spectators during the attacks”, and that “[n]o police report has been filed for the attempted murders” of the church leaders. In addition, “before an inquiry could be conducted, police forcibly cleaned up the Church of the Epiphany. They removed burnt furniture and made the presbyter whitewash the walls to remove traces of fuel oil used in the blaze”.25 Furthermore, the regional secretary of the AICC has claimed that the banners were displayed with the intention of provoking, and subsequently attacking, Christians.26

5. Is state protection of Christians effective in the Punjab?

The UK Home Office reported in 2008 that “[t]he Indian constitution guarantees the rights of religious minorities and there are avenues open for individuals to seek protection from the authorities where they experience ill-treatment…[A rare] exception to this may be high-profile religious leaders in very specific and individual circumstances”.27 In October 2009, the US Department of State similarly reported that the Indian “Constitution protects the right of individuals to choose or change their religion as well as to practice the religion of their choice”. The law also “provides remedy for violations of religious freedom”, and protection from “discrimination or persecution by private actors”. However, the law “was not enforced rigorously or effectively in many cases pertaining to religiously oriented violence”.28

Police have provided protection to Christian victims of attacks in some instances, although they have also failed to intervene in other cases. In December 2007, the Orissa state government failed to act quickly when violence broke out between Hindus and Christians, allowing the violence to escalate. However, some perpetrators of attacks on Christians for their actual and perceived involvement in conversions of Hindus to Christianity “have been traced and prosecuted”.29 A May 2008 report by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom stated that “[a]ttacks on Christian churches and individuals, largely perpetrated by individuals associated with extremist Hindu nationalist groups, continue to occur, and perpetrators are rarely held to account by the state legal apparatus”.30

The national government has limited capacity to intervene in state-level abuses of religious freedom. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is unable to investigate crimes without the relevant state government‟s permission, although in some cases, has intervened “when state governments were reluctant or unwilling to do so”. The US Department of State reports that “some extremists continued to view ineffective investigation and prosecution of attacks on religious minorities, particularly at the state

25 „Police Inaction Over Attempted Murders in Recent Punjab Anti-Christian Violence‟ 2010, All India Christian Council website, 2 March http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/3954/42/ – Accessed 26 October 2010 – Attachment 26 26 „Attacks in Punjab, India Similar to Orissa Mayhem, Report Says‟ 2010, Compass Direct News, 3 March http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/india/15915/ – Accessed 27 October 2010 – Attachment 24 27 UK Home Office 2008, Operational Guidance Note: India, April – Attachment 27 28 US Department of State 2009, International Religious Freedom Report for 2009 – India, 26 October, Section II – Attachment 22 29 UK Home Office 2008, Operational Guidance Note: India, April – Attachment 27 30 UK Home Office 2010, Country of Origin Information Report – India, 21 September, p.89 – Attachment 28

Page 7 of 13 and local level, as a signal that they could commit such violence with impunity, although numerous cases were in the courts at the end of the reporting period”.31

Furthermore, „Hindutva‟, an ideology that promotes Hindu religion and culture over all others, remained influential over government policies and actions at state and local levels. State-level „anti-conversion‟ laws, although not explicitly banning conversions, have been criticised by non-governmental organisations (NGOs) for infringing on the right to convert and reinforcing the Hindu majority.32

The US Department of State indicates that in general, “[l]aw enforcement and prosecution continued to be weak. This was exacerbated by a low police-to-population ratio, corruption, and an overburdened court system”. Human rights groups criticised the national government “for alleged indifference and inaction toward abuses state and local authorities and private citizens committed”.33

Punjab

Following the Hindu-Christian clashes in Batala on 20 February 2010, it reportedly took the police two days to arrest those responsible for provoking the violence. The police also arrested and allegedly assaulted some of the Christian protesters.34 According to the AICC, the Punjabi police took little action during the attacks, and did not file a police report “for the attempted murders” of the church leaders. Furthermore, the police reportedly cleaned up the burnt Church of the Epiphany before conducting an inquiry into the fire, removing damaged furniture and washing away traces of fuel oil.35

As highlighted in the response to question 3, 12 Christians in Gurdaspur were detained in July 2010 “after Hindu extremists…filed a compliant against them of forceful conversion”. The Hindu extremists verbally and physically abused the Christians before taking them to the police station, where they “pressured the police to file a case against [them]”. The Christians were released without charge following demands from Christian leaders.36

In 2006 the were criticised by church leaders for failing to take urgent action in investigating an attack on St Paul‟s Church in Amritsar. Although “[t]he police had already registered an FIR [First Information Report] and arrested seven people…the…investigation failed to yield substantial results”.37 In April 2006, activists from Hindu extremist groups threatened Christians celebrating Easter in Bathinda.

31 US Department of State 2009, International Religious Freedom Report for 2009 – India, 26 October, Section II – Attachment 22 32 US Department of State 2009, International Religious Freedom Report for 2009 – India, 26 October, Section II – Attachment 22 33 US Department of State 2009, International Religious Freedom Report for 2009 – India, 26 October, Section II – Attachment 22 34 „Jesus caricature outrages Christians‟ 2010, Union of Catholic Asian News website, 22 February http://www.ucanews.com/2010/02/22/jesus-caricature-outrages-christians-in-punjab/ – Accessed 26 October 2010 – Attachment 11 35 „Police Inaction Over Attempted Murders in Recent Punjab Anti-Christian Violence‟ 2010, All India Christian Council website, 2 March http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/3954/42/ – Accessed 26 October 2010 – Attachment 26 36 „Christians attacked in Punjab, Arrested in MP & Order to quit in JK‟ 2010, Church News Site website, 20 July http://www.churchnewssite.com/portal/?p=23095 – Accessed 27 October 2010 – Attachment 12 37 „Concern over slow probe into attack on church in Punjab‟ 2006, All India Christian Council website, 13 September http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/709/45/ – Accessed 20 April 2009 – Attachment 29

Page 8 of 13 Christian leaders who reported the incident to police were “reprimanded…for carrying out Christian activities”. Two of the activists were arrested, however, were released on bail the same day.38

In 2005 Compass Direct reported that a group of Christians in Punjab were beaten by police after being taken into custody, “presumably to protect them from Hindu extremists”. After calling the police to respond to an attack by Hindu extremist group Bajrang Dal, the group of Christians were allegedly assaulted at the police station where they were held until the next evening.39 Nevertheless, a 2006 Worthy News report states that the Punjab Police “promised protection” to Christians after a church in Bhatinda was attacked by Hindu extremists. When the police arrived at the church, the extremists reportedly fled, although three were subsequently caught.40

6. What information is there about the ability of a Christian convert to relocate in India outside the Punjab?

The UK Home Office advises that individuals who experience ill-treatment on religious grounds have the option to relocate internally. Freedom of movement is provided for in the Indian Constitution and is generally respected by the government, besides the requirement for special permits in certain border areas. It is reported that “as a general rule, an internal relocation option exists from one Indian State to another”.41

In 2006, the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada (IRB) reported that local police forces do not perform background checks on newcomers arriving from other parts of India. In addition, there is no registration system for citizens, who generally do not have identification cards. The Danish Immigration Service similarly reported in 2000 that a low-profile person would be able to relocate within India without being traced. A person who has experienced problems with the authorities in Punjab would generally be able to reside elsewhere in India.42

Nevertheless, in some states governed by the BJP, sporadic anti-Christian violence remains a concern. A number of NGOs have claimed that attackers in some areas have “affiliations with the Hindu extremist group Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh”.43

Question 5 of RRT Research Response IND34728 of 22 April 2009 discusses violence against Christians by Hindu extremists in some states of India, particularly West Bengal and Tamil Nadu.44

38 All India Christian Council 2006, „Hindu extremists stop Christian worship gathering in Punjab‟ All India Christian Council website, 5 May http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/912/45/ - Accessed 21 January 2009 – Attachment 30 39 Lal, V. 2005, „INDIA: Police beat Christians in Punjab State, India, Compass Direct, 3 October – Attachment 31 40 „Police In India State Protects Christians After Militants Attack House Church‟, 2006, Worthy News, 10 May, http://www.worthynews.com/932-police-in-india-state-protects-christians-after-militants-attack-house-church – Accessed 20 April 2009 – Attachment 32 41 UK Home Office 2008, Operational Guidance Note: India, April – Attachment 27; UK Home Office 2010, Country of Origin Information Report – India, 21 September, p.95 – Attachment 28 42 UK Home Office 2010, Country of Origin Information Report – India, 21 September, p.95 – Attachment 28 43 US Department of State 2010, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2009 – India, 11 March, Section 2c – Attachment 33 44 RRT Research & Information 2009, Research Response IND34728, 22 April – Attachment 23

Page 9 of 13 The US Department of State reported in October 2009 that five of India‟s 28 states have active anti-conversion laws, which have been criticised for infringing on an individual‟s right to convert and reinforcing the Hindu majority. States which have such laws in place include Gujarat, Orissa, Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh, and Himachal Pradesh. An “inactive anti-conversion law” is awaiting enforcement regulations in Arunachal Pradesh, while in Karnataka, Christian groups claim that the introduction of an anti-conversion law is being planned by the state government, although government officials have denied such claims.45

7. What information is there about the ability of Hindu groups to track and/or mistreat Indian nationals in Singapore?

No specific information was found on the ability of Hindu fundamentalist groups to track or mistreat Indian nationals in Singapore. It is unlikely that such groups would operate outside of India.

According to the US Department of State, approximately 8.9 percent of Singapore‟s population is ethnic Indian; 55 percent of which are Hindu and 12 percent are Christian.46 However, no information was found on the presence of extremist Hindu groups in Singapore.

8. Is there any information that confirms the existence of the Rhema Church of India, address 18, Defence Enclave, New , 110002?

No information was found that confirms the existence of the Rhema Church of India in New Delhi. A number of sources provide information about various churches with names similar to the Rhema Church of India, although only one of these, the „Rhema Fellowship Church‟ is located in New Delhi. The address of this church has not been located.47

The Tamil Christian Worship website indicates that there is a „Rhema Church‟ located in Madurai, Tamil Nadu, southern India.48

Rhema Bible Church, based in the United States, has established a Rhema India Bible Training Center in Nagpur, Maharashtra. According to the church‟s website, the training centre in Maharashtra is “the only authorized RHEMA International Bible School in India that is Associated/Affiliated with RHEMA Bible Training Center USA”. The church claims to “have no other branches in India”.49

45 US Department of State 2009, International Religious Freedom Report for 2009 – India, 26 October, Section II – Attachment 22 46 US Department of State 2009, International Religious Freedom Report for 2009 – Singapore, October, Section I – Attachment 34 47 „Rhema Youth Movement‟ 2009-2010, Blogspot website http://youth4christ24x7.blogspot.com/ – Accessed 3 November 2010 – Attachment 35 48 „Rhema Church‟ (undated), Tamil Christian Worship website http://www.tamilchristianworship.org/tamilnaduchurches/rhema_madurai.html – Accessed 3 November 2010 – Attachment 36 49 „The History of RHEMA INDIA‟ (undated), Rhema India website http://www.rhema-india.org/rhema- history.html – Accessed 3 November 2010 – Attachment 37

Page 10 of 13 A business directory website lists „The Rhema Global Ministries‟ church, located in Kurnool, Andhra Pradesh.50 A church and Christian missions directory similarly identifies the „Rhema Christian Assembly‟ in Secunderabad, Andhra Pradesh.51

Attachments

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6. „Where We Work: Country and State Profiles‟ (undated), Gospel for Asia website http://www.gfa.org/countryprofiles/ – Accessed 26 October 2010.

7. „About K.P. Yohannan‟ (undated), Gospel for Asia website http://www.gfa.org/about/aboutkp/ – Accessed 26 October 2010.

8. „Christians hold protest march‟ 2008, The Tribune, 7 September http://www.tribuneindia.com/2008/20080907/punjab1.htm#12 – Accessed 6 March 2009.

9. All India Christian Council 2010, „Report of the All India Christian Council Fact Finding Team On Incidents in Batala and Other Areas of Punjab 18-21 February 2010‟, All India Christian Council website, 2 March http://indianchristians.in/news/images/resources/pdf/aicc%20FFT%20report%20on%20Fe b%202010%20Punjab%20-%20executive%20summary.pdf – Accessed 26 October 2010.

10. Sharma, A. 2009, „A Punjab seat where Christians are important‟, Thaindian News, 9 May http://www.thaindian.com/newsportal/politics/a-punjab-seat-where-christians-are- important_100190156.html – Accessed 27 October 2010.

11. „Jesus caricature outrages Christians‟ 2010, Union of Catholic Asian News website, 22 February http://www.ucanews.com/2010/02/22/jesus-caricature-outrages-christians-in- punjab/ – Accessed 26 October 2010.

12. „Christians attacked in Punjab, Arrested in MP & Order to quit in JK‟ 2010, Church News Site website, 20 July http://www.churchnewssite.com/portal/?p=23095 – Accessed 27 October 2010.

13. „Punjab Lok Sabha Constituency Elections Results 2009 Gurdaspur‟ 2009, India Elections website http://www.indiaelections.co.in/lok-sabha-constituencies/punjab/gurdaspur/ – Accessed 29 October 2010.

50 „The Rhema Global Ministries‟ (undated), Janta Review website http://www.jantareview.com/Kurnool/biz_67939/The-Rhema-Global-Ministries – Accessed 3 November 2010 – Attachment 38 51 „Directory of churches, ministries and missionary organizations in India‟ (undated), Christian Church and Missions Directory website http://www.missionopportunity.com/mission-directory/christian-missions-india.htm – Accessed 3 November 2010 – Attachment 39

Page 11 of 13 14. „Ban organizations behind violence in Orissa‟ 2008, Times of India, 4 September http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Chandigarh/Ban_organizations_behind_violence_in_O rissa_/articleshow/3442274.cms – Accessed 6 March 2009.

15. RRT Research & Information 2009, Research Response IND34497, 10 March.

16. „Police Inaction Over Attempted Murders in Recent Punjab Anti-Christian Violence‟ 2010, All India Christian Council website, 2 March http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/3954/42/ – Accessed 26 October 2010.

17. All India Christian Council 2008, „New attacks in Orissa, Karnataka, Punjab, and Kerala‟, 21 September http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/2406/45/ – Accessed 22 January 2009.

18. „Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) list of attacks- 2008‟ 2009, Persecution Update India website, 1 January http://persecution.in/archive/2009/1/1 – Accessed 16 April 2009.

19. „Bajrang Dal falsely accused two Bible college students in Punjab and attempted an arrest‟ 2008, All India Christian Council website, 2 December http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/2642/45/ – Accessed 16 April 2009.

20. „Massive Christian Rally Demands Justice, Security‟ 2008, South Asia Religious News, 25 November http://www.sarnews.in/details.php?n=910 – Accessed 6 March 2009.

21. International Christian Concern 2007, „Punjab Hindu radicals attack Christians and shut down prayer service‟, Persecution.org website, 3 November http://www.persecution.org/suffering/newsdetail.php?newscode=4768 – Accessed 21 January 2009.

22. US Department of State 2009, International Religious Freedom Report for 2009 – India, 26 October.

23. RRT Research & Information 2009, Research Response IND34728, 22 April.

24. „Attacks in Punjab, India Similar to Orissa Mayhem, Report Says‟ 2010, Compass Direct News, 3 March http://www.compassdirect.org/english/country/india/15915/ – Accessed 27 October 2010.

25. Carvalho, N. 2010, „Punjab: clashes between Christians and Hindu extremists, Protestant church burned‟, AsiaNews, 22 February http://www.asianews.it/news-en/Punjab:-clashes- between-Christians-and-Hindu-extremists,-Protestant-church-burned-17691.html – Accessed 26 October 2010.

26. „Police Inaction Over Attempted Murders in Recent Punjab Anti-Christian Violence‟ 2010, All India Christian Council website, 2 March http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/3954/42/ – Accessed 26 October 2010.

27. UK Home Office 2008, Operational Guidance Note: India, April.

28. UK Home Office 2010, Country of Origin Information Report – India, 21 September.

Page 12 of 13 29. „Concern over slow probe into attack on church in Punjab‟ 2006, All India Christian Council website, 13 September http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/709/45/ – Accessed 20 April 2009.

30. All India Christian Council 2006, „Hindu extremists stop Christian worship gathering in Punjab‟ All India Christian Council website, 5 May http://indianchristians.in/news/content/view/912/45/ - Accessed 21 January 2009.

31. Lal, V. 2005, „INDIA: Police beat Christians in Punjab State, India, Compass Direct, 3 October. (CISNET India CX136502)

32. „Police In India State Protects Christians After Militants Attack House Church‟, 2006, Worthy News, 10 May, http://www.worthynews.com/932-police-in-india-state-protects- christians-after-militants-attack-house-church – Accessed 20 April 2009.

33. US Department of State 2010, Country Reports on Human Rights Practices for 2009 – India, 11 March.

34. US Department of State 2009, International Religious Freedom Report for 2009 – Singapore, October.

35. „Rhema Youth Movement‟ 2009-2010, Blogspot website http://youth4christ24x7.blogspot.com/ – Accessed 3 November 2010.

36. „Rhema Church‟ (undated), Tamil Christian Worship website http://www.tamilchristianworship.org/tamilnaduchurches/rhema_madurai.html – Accessed 3 November 2010.

37. „The History of RHEMA INDIA‟ (undated), Rhema India website http://www.rhema- india.org/rhema-history.html – Accessed 3 November 2010.

38. „The Rhema Global Ministries‟ (undated), Janta Review website http://www.jantareview.com/Kurnool/biz_67939/The-Rhema-Global-Ministries – Accessed 3 November 2010.

39. „Directory of churches, ministries and missionary organizations in India‟ (undated), Christian Church and Missions Directory website http://www.missionopportunity.com/mission-directory/christian-missions-india.htm – Accessed 3 November 2010.

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