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Christian leaders urge US to designate India as “Country of Particular Concern”
The letter's signatories include 18 bishops, three archbishops, and 166 clergy, alongside eight current or former presidents and deans from five theological schools.
Over 300 American Christian Leaders appeal for persecuted Indian religious minorities / ourtesy Photo/FIACONA
Federation of Indian-American Christian Organizations in North America (FIACONA) announced that over 300 Christian leaders from the United States have signed a letter urging the U.S. State Department to designate India as a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC).
The signatories, representing a diverse array of denominations, emphasize the increasing persecution of religious minorities under the current Indian government.
The letter was signed by 18 bishops, three archbishops, and 166 clergy, alongside eight current or former presidents and deans from five theological schools. Notable figures include the immediate past president of the National Council of Churches, leaders from the United Methodist Church, and the Catholic bishop of the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Diocese of Chicago.
"As Indian Christians struggle to follow their faith in the face of Hindu supremacist policies, persecution of religious minorities is being buried by U.S. adoration of the current Indian regime," stated Rev. Neal Christie, executive director of FIACONA. "This letter highlights the rapidly escalating state-sanctioned violations of human rights targeting religious minorities, including Christians, Muslims, Dalits, and indigenous tribal peoples."
United Christian Forum and FIACONA reports indicate a significant rise in attacks, with the latter documenting 1,570 incidents in 2023 alone, up from 1,198 in 2022. International Christian Concern ranked India as the third worst "persecutor of the year" in 2023.
"This letter is a clarion call to the American Church to stay alert to abuses caused by religious nationalism in what was a pluralistic and secular India," remarked Rev. Peter Cook, a FIACONA board member and Executive Director of the New York State Council of Churches. "We hope it will inspire the U.S. government to stop ignoring how Modi’s Hindu nationalist BJP systematically implements a religious nationalist agenda in both India and America."
They have cited reports from Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International which corroborate these concerns, highlighting increased violence between Hindu BJP supporters and Muslim and Christian communities, particularly in BJP-ruled states.
"For years, the pressure of violent persecution has been building against Christians and other religious minorities in India," said Pieter Friedrich, a FIACONA board member and journalist. "The U.S. Church is tragically silent as India becomes not only our nation’s greatest ally in Asia but also the most dangerous democracy in the world for Christians. It is encouraging to see the narrative shift as, finally, hundreds of Christian leaders from diverse backgrounds raise a voice for the persecuted Church in India."
The letter requests the U.S. State Department to hold the Indian government accountable for ensuring equal human rights for all religious communities and consider targeted sanctions against Indian government agencies and officials responsible for severe violations.
Several denominations had earlier echoed these concerns. In 2024, the United Methodist Church, the Anglican Free Communion International, and the New York Conference of the United Church of Christ passed resolutions condemning the persecution of religious minorities in India. These bodies also urged the U.S. State Department to designate India as a CPC and called on their members to advocate for U.S. Congressional action.
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