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Persecution continues against Christian communities in Orissa: Will you help?

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Published: Wednesday 15 April 2009

Persecution continues against Christian communities in Orissa: Will you help?

Project(s): 21-723

Country: INDIA

In the run up to India’s general elections, Christians in Orissa are increasingly fearful that their electoral voice may not be heard. During months of violence against local Christians, attackers deliberately sought out identity papers and burnt them. With the loss of these papers, many Christians also lost their right to vote in the federal and local ballots, which start tomorrow. The Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) estimates that as many as 70,000 Christians, who would normally vote for opposition political candidates, may be affected, enabling Hindu extremist political parties to maintain their dominance unchallenged.

Christian women from Orissa receiving relief packages distributed by Barnabas Fund

In the past 18 months, Orissa has been the scene of some of the worst anti-Christian violence and persecution since India gained independence, notably in December 2007 and August 2008. Hindu extremists have killed at least 120 Christians and injured thousands. Homes, churches and orphanages have been destroyed and whole villages cleansed of all Christians. Relief camps, where the Christian families fled in search of safety and shelter, were subsequently attacked.

Tens of thousands of Christians are now homeless in Orissa with their possessions burned; Christian children are unable to go to school and local businesses have stopped employing Christians as day labourers. The attackers also purposely ripped up educational certificates and diplomas of the Christians, burning the pieces. Families are living in cramped conditions in makeshift camps in the middle of fields. There has been limited help from the government; the homeless Christians barely have enough food and are constantly fearful of further attacks, taking it in turns to guard the camp at night.

Orissa Christians whose identity papers have been burned are not allowed to vote. The authorities in Kandhamal district have said they will issue new identity papers, but these must be collected in person. Many homeless Christians are too frightened to return to their original villages as they have been told by former neighbours that only if they renounce their faith and convert to Hinduism and drop charges against anyone involved in the violence will they be allowed to return home.

These bicycles will help Christians who lost everything in the violence to restart their live

Dr Patrick Sookhdeo, International Director of Barnabas Fund, says “We thank God for the generous financial gifts from Christians around the world which have enabled Barnabas to provide temporary housing, clothing, educational supplies and basic food provisions for Christians affected by the violence in Orissa, but so much more is needed. Please continue to support this work

financially and in prayer. Please pray especially for justice in electoral representation and pray that our suffering brothers and sisters will find hope and comfort in our Lord Jesus Christ.”

At this time of trial and uncertainty for Christians in Orissa, will you help to sustain them by your prayers and gifts? Please help us to do this by donating to project 21-723 (Support for victims of anti-Christian violence in Orissa). In these financially difficult times, please remember our brothers and sisters who are far worse off than we are.

Donate Today

Please click to donate online using our secure server (Please quote project reference 21-723).

If you prefer to telephone, dial: 0800 587 4006 from within the UK or +44 1672 565031 from outside the UK (Please quote project reference 21-723).

If you prefer to send a cheque by post: Click this link for addresses of our regional offices (Please quote project reference 21-723).

Please Pray:

Pray for Christians in Orissa, that the Lord will sustain them and keep them safe in the midst of violence and persecution.

Pray that the freedom of India's Christian minorities will be safeguarded and that the Christians from Orissa will be allowed to return to their homes without the fear of further violence or being forced to convert to Hinduism.

Pray for the upcoming general elections in India, that the polling will be fair and that Christians will have a voice. Pray for a peaceful conclusion to the elections and a ceasing of violence against the Christian communities.

Pray for the continuing successful distribution of food supplies and also for the provision of medical, educational and micro-enterprise needs for our Christian brothers and sisters.

Pray for the Hindu extremists who have carried out this violence, that the Lord Jesus Christ will touch their hearts. Some of the Hindu extremists have claimed that Hindus are the real victims in this situation, not because they have suffered any physical harm but because they "want to protect their sense of dignity".