PETITION TO THE INDIAN AMBASSADOR TO IRELAND

Seeking action to stop the ongoing attacks by Hindu extremists on Christians in India

Signed by 17 TDs and Senators

CHURCH IN CHAINS PO Box 10447, Glenageary, Co. , Ireland T 01-282 5393 E [email protected] W www.churchinchains.ie TEXT OF PETITION TO INDIAN AMBASSADOR ABOUT THE PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IN INDIA

I write, as a member of the , to express my deep concern at the fact that Christians in India face violent attacks from Hindu extremists on an ongoing basis. I understand that the incidence of such attacks has been growing alarmingly in recent years – over 700 such incidents were reported in 2017 according to figures provided by Church in Chains to the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs earlier this year and anti-Christian violence has continued on a weekly basis throughout 2018.

It is clear based on the multiplicity of reports from monitoring agencies, including Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch, that attackers are generally acting with impunity and are rarely arrested.

I am disappointed to learn that, to date, you have not responded to many expressions of concern about this issue and failed to respond to an invitation to appear before the Oireachtas Joint Committee on Foreign Affairs.

I ask that you convey our appeal to your government to take effective action to combat the attackers, protect the victims and promote religious freedom.

CHURCH IN CHAINS PO Box 10447, Glenageary, Co. Dublin, Ireland T 01-282 5393 E [email protected] W www.churchinchains.ie TDs and Senators who signed petition to Indian Ambassador calling for protection for Indian Christians

From top left to bottom right: Bobby Aylward TD, Senator Ivana Bacik, Seán Barrett TD, TD, Joan Collins TD, TD, Seán Haughey TD, Senator Kevin Humphreys, TD, Mattie McGrath TD, Kevin Moran TD, Senator Rónán Mullen, Senator David Norris, Maureen O’Sullivan TD, Willie Penrose TD, TD, TD.

CHURCH IN CHAINS PO Box 10447, Glenageary, Co. Dublin, Ireland T 01-282 5393 E [email protected] W www.churchinchains.ie FIVE QUESTIONS ABOUT THE PERSECUTION OF CHRISTIANS IN INDIA

1. What will happen to this petition and when can we expect to receive a response?

2. What is your government going to do to stop the attacks on Christians?

3. Do you support anti-conversion laws or do you view them as a threat to religious freedom?

4. Why has India has been designated as Country of Particular Concern by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom?

5. Why is anti-Christian violence increasing under the present government?

CHURCH IN CHAINS PO Box 10447, Glenageary, Co. Dublin, Ireland T 01-282 5393 E [email protected] W www.churchinchains.ie 1st Quarter Report 2020

PERSECUTION RELIEF has recorded and served

PERSECUTION INCIDENTS Since Jan 2016 to Mar 2020

6 nnual Report 201 TYPES OF PERSECUTION JANUARY TO DECEMBER 2019

199 104 85 Incidents Incidents Incidents

Threats, Physical Harassment & Church A�ack. Violence In�mida�on.

52 28 17 Incidents Incidents Incidents

Arrested Boyco� & Church Discrimina�on Building Burnt

06 04 20 Incidents Incidents Incidents

Ghar Wapsi Murdered Others

nnual Report 201

PERSECUTION STATISTICS STATE WISE 2019

527 INCIDENTS

UP TN KA MH BR MP WB 109 75 32 31 30 27 26

Uar Pradesh Tail Nadu arnataa Maharashtra Bihar Madhya Pradesh est Bengal

OD CG TS KL AP GJ DL 22 21 20 20 17 15 12

Odisha Chhasgarh Telangana Kerala ndhra Pradesh uarat elhi

JH HR JK PB HP RJ UK 12 9 9 8 6 6 5

harhand aryana Jammu & Kashmir Puna Himachal Pradesh Raasthan Uarhand

TR HR ML MN AR AN PY 4 3 2 2 2 1 1

Tripura aan iu Meghalaya Manipur runachal Pradesh ndaan Islands Puducherri

PERSECUTION STATISTICS MONTH WISE 2019 (527 incidents)

JAN FEB MAR APR MAY JUN JUL AUG SEP OCT NOV DEC 45 45 40 27 23 29 35 58 63 46 69 47