Anti-Conversion Laws Target Christians in India

Recent clashes between police and protesters in Kolkata and Howrah resulted in injuries to at least 37 policemen and numerous protesters. The violence erupted during a march organized by the Paschimbanga Chhatra Samaj, escalating after the demonstrators confronted police barricades. In Uttar Pradesh, hostility against Christians is on the rise, with nearly 1,700 arrests under stringent anti-conversion laws in the last four years, highlighting a trend of growing Hindu nationalism and intolerance. New legislation is set to increase penalties for forced conversions, further exacerbating the situation for Christians in the region. Reports indicate a significant spike in attacks against Christians, with 361 incidents recorded in the first half of 2024 alone. Meanwhile, the 2008 Kandhamal riots continue to cast a long shadow, with many survivors still seeking justice for the violence perpetrated against their communities, which has gone largely unaddressed by the current government.