ASIA/INDIA - Stones against Pentecostal Christians

Tuesday, 13 September 2016 religious minorities   religious freedom   hinduism   violence  

Lucknow (Agenzia Fides) - For more than half an hour a small Pentecostal Christian church packed with faithful was hit by a hail of stones organized by Hindu extremist militants who accused the Christians of proselytism: as Sajan K. George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) revealed to Fides. The incident took place on Sunday, September 11 in Siddharth Nagar district in Uttar Pradesh state in northern India.
The church in the village of Shyampur was targeted on the basis of rumors of alleged "conversion" of a Hindu family to the Christian faith. This circumstance was totally denied by the Pentecostal faithful. "No one was hurt, but the fact has created a climate of suspicion and distrust in the district" refers George.
The Pentecostal pastors confirmed to the police who intervened that the allegations were false and tendentious. The violence took place as worshipers had gathered to pray during the Sunday celebration: "Christian worship in India is perfectly legal: the radicals threw stones and disturbed the peace and harmony in this village. The freedom of worship is our constitutional guarantee" concluded the President of the GCIC. (PA-NC) (Agenzia Fides 13/09/2016)


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