1998 attacks on Christians in southeastern Gujarat

1998 attacks on Christians in southeastern Gujarat
DateLate 1997 – early 1999
Location
Southeastern Gujarat
Caused by
GoalsEthnic and religious persecution
Methods
Part of a series on
Violence against
Christians in India
Incidents
Related topics

The 1998 attacks on Christians in southeastern Gujarat refers to the wave of attacks against Christians mostly around the Dangs District of Southeastern Gujarat from late 1997 to early 1999.[1][2][3][4][5] The attacks reportedly started at the end of 1997 before peaking during the Christmas of 1998 after the anti-Christian rallies in the Dangs District by the Hindu Jagaran Manch.[6][7][8] The attacks included assaults on and killings of Christians, attacks against Christian schools, institutions and shops, damages, demolition and burning down of Prayer Halls and Churches mainly by members of the Bhartiya Janata Party, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and Hindu Jagran Manch.[9]

Human Rights Watch reported that from 25 December 1988 to 3 January 1999, at least 20 prayer halls and Churches were damaged or burnt down and Christians and Christian institutions were attacked in the Dangs and its surrounding districts and at least 25 villages had reported incidents of burning and damages to Prayer halls and Churches all over Gujarat.[3][10][11][12][13][14]

The Human Rights Watch reported that the majority of incidents of violence occurred in 1998, the same year that the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) took control of the state.

  1. ^ "Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 1999: India". 1997-2001.state.gov. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  2. ^ "Anti-Christian Violence on the Rise in India". Human Rights Watch. 30 September 1999. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  3. ^ a b Cite error: The named reference :4 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  4. ^ "How Gujarat's Christians are rallying for peace and the Pulwama martyrs". www.dailyo.in. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  5. ^ "Church leaders gun for 'utter lie'". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  6. ^ "Rediff On The NeT: 'Anti-Christian attacks started in Nov 1997'". m.rediff.com. Retrieved 27 March 2020.
  7. ^ Datta-Ray, Sunanda K. (13 January 1999). "Opinion | Is India Imitating China in Persecuting Christians?". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  8. ^ Thomas, Melvyn Reggie (9 April 2013). "Church of north India to focus on tribal Christians' development". The Times of India. Retrieved 5 September 2020.
  9. ^ "'We Have No Orders To Save You': State Participation and Complicity in Communal Violence in Gujarat". Refworld. United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  10. ^ "VI. The Context of the Violence in Gujarat". Human Rights Watch. Retrieved 28 March 2020.
  11. ^ "PM's visit puts Keshubhai in the dock". The Hindu. 12 January 1999.
  12. ^ "Bearing the cross: Recent attacks against Christians worrisome". Hindustan Times. 15 March 2015. Retrieved 29 March 2020.
  13. ^ Human Rights Watch. Human Rights Watch. 1995. pp. 55. ISBN 9780300065466.
  14. ^ Dayal, John (11 February 2016). "Why the Christian community should steer clear of the RSS 'hand of friendship'". Scroll.in. Retrieved 29 March 2020.