Christian Churches in eastern Uttar Pradesh gathered in Varanasi, the holy city of Hinduism, for a great “peace rally” because of Christian persecution,” said Rev David. This problem affects especially the District of Varanasi where right-wing Hindus have forced “hundreds of house churches to close.” Those present rallied for peace, expressing solidarity with the persecuted churches. They also demanded “from the government that church services be allowed to start” again and that Article 25 of the Constitution on freedom of religion be upheld. Christians “came out to speak up against the oppression and violence” with “more than 1,100 people attending the peace rally on 1st December” against anti-Christian persecution.
As reported by asianews.it, Rev Nehemiah Christie, an activist with the Alliance Defending Freedom, an India-wide Christian network, noted that the rally “was successful.” Those present rallied for peace, expressing solidarity with the persecuted churches. They also demanded “from the government that church services be allowed to start” again and that Article 25 of the Constitution on freedom of religion be upheld.
The meeting was important because Uttar Pradesh’s chief minister, Yogi Adityanath, a guru, has expressed notoriously negative views of Christians and other religious minorities. In the past he has criticized Mother Teresa of Kolkata and in November he decided to ban Muslims from praying in the Taj Mahal mosque. According to Christian NGOs monitoring anti-Christian persecution in India, Uttar Pradesh has recorded the highest number of anti-Christian incidents, 48 out of a total of 95 in the last three months.
Source: www.asianews.it
