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Jitendra-main_article_image.png
Open Doors
World News

Indian family tells of attacks following conversion

by Hannah Tooley

Christian anti-persecution charity Open Doors says that the family converted after 21-year-old son Jitendra was healed of his illness.

He said: "I had done many Hindu rituals but I stayed sick. I joined a Christian at a prayer event. This God instantly healed me. I started to go to church and later my family followed."

Open Doors World Watch List:
Population: 1.3 billion, 63 million Christians
Religion: Hinduism
World Watch List Rank: 17
Source of Persecution: Religious nationalism

The wider community saw that the family no longer gave offerings to Hindu idols or provided funds for festivals.

Jitendra said: "When my mother went to the market, she was often harassed by other women.

"My siblings and I were bullied at school. I even lost my best friend. I cried a lot."

Their house was targeted and a drain was constructed outside their house and filled with rubbish.

"People threw in their garbage, even cow dung," Jitendra said.

India: 
Population: 1.3 billion, 63 million Christians
Religion: Hinduism
World Watch List Rank: 17
Source of Persecution: Religious nationalism

He also told Open Doors of an attack on his father. He said: "We could hear my father screaming so I ran outside to help him. Suddenly three men grabbed me from the back, lifted me in the air and threw me on the ground.

"I thought I was going to die. They dragged me through the mud to the drain and pushed my head in the garbage.

"I couldn't breathe and was sure I couldn't survive. I tried to free myself and somehow I succeeded. They kept beating me with sticks. In the distance I could hear my mother screaming."

Zoe Smith, Head of Advocacy at Open Doors UK & Ireland, says: "The Indian constitution assures all citizens of the right to 'profess, practice and propagate any religion', but Christians in India are frequently denied this right - hundreds of Christians have been violently attacked this year alone for their faith.

"This is why we are asking people to write to the Indian High Commission to urge them to raise our concerns with the Indian government.

"It is vital that we speak out on behalf of Christians in many parts of India who are facing discrimination, violence and even death simply for choosing to follow Jesus."

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