By Muslim Mirror Web Desk
United Methodist Church (UMC) delegates at the April 2024 General Conference have made a significant statement by overwhelmingly supporting a resolution condemning the persecution of Indian Christians by Hindu nationalists. This resolution also calls upon the US Department of State to classify India as a country of particular concern regarding human rights violations. As the second largest Protestant denomination in the US, with a domestic congregation of 5 million and an international presence of 10 million, this vote marks a historic stance on India’s treatment of religious minorities by a Christian church.
“We applaud the moral clarity and vision of our brothers and sisters at the United Methodist Church. Their decisive statement against Hindu nationalist violence sends a clear signal to the entire world: persecution of religious minorities anywhere is an affront to people everywhere,” said Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) President Mohammed Jawad.
The context for this resolution is the escalating attacks on Christians in India, particularly under the Modi government. Reports from organizations like the United Christian Forum and the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations document a significant rise in anti-Christian incidents in recent years, with a dramatic increase in attacks since 2014. International Christian Concern has also ranked India high on its list of countries with severe persecution of Christians.
Journalist Peter Friedrich praised the UMC’s resolution as historic and essential, emphasizing the urgency for American churches to address the worsening persecution of Christians and religious minorities in India.
The resolution specifically addresses the persecution of Indian Christians in Manipur, where violence surged earlier in the year amid alleged inaction by the Modi administration. This included the destruction of churches and loss of lives in the northern region.
The resolution calls on the US government to take concrete measures such as targeted sanctions against Indian officials and agencies responsible for religious freedom violations. This includes freezing assets and restricting entry into the US under human rights-related legal frameworks.
UMC Reverend Neal Christie, also serving as Executive Director of the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations, highlighted the resolution’s focus on combating ethnonationalism and defending human rights. It emphasizes the church’s stand against state-sponsored violence that threatens religious freedom and the identity of minority communities in what was once celebrated as a pluralistic democracy.
The UMC’s resolution reflects a strong stance against religious persecution and calls for international action to address human rights abuses in India, particularly targeting officials and agencies involved in such violations.