Targeted Violence Against Indian Christians During Christmas 2025
Washington, D.C. (February 25, 2025) – The Indian American Muslim Council’s (IAMC) new report, “Targeted Violence Against Christians in India During Christmas 2025,” documents a disturbing surge in anti-Christian intimidation and violence during the Christmas season, highlighting how Christians engaging in holiday celebrations or congregations were increasingly met with organized harassment as Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) continue to foster a climate of normalized hate against Indian Christians.
The Christmas season of 2025 saw a marked escalation in intimidation and violence against Christians across India, with incidents reported in multiple states in the weeks leading up to December 25. These acts were commonly justified through allegations of “forced religious conversion” of Hindus, despite a lack of evidence. Incidents targeted ordinary religious worship and public expression, resulting in harrowing visuals of a mall being stormed by Hindu militants over Christmas decorations, a visually impaired woman being assaulted by a local BJP official, and multiple Christian congregations being attacked.
The incidents documented in this report reveal consistent interference with religious worship, the criminalization of Christian visibility in public space, and acts of mob violence carried out with little or no deterrence. These trends reflect a broader environment shaped by rising Hindu majoritarianism, the misuse of anti-conversion laws, and the repeated involvement of extremist groups. State responses were frequently inadequate, marked by police inaction and administrative obstruction.
The report concludes with recommendations to both the United States and Indian governments, urging the U.S. Secretary of State to use the findings of this report to accept USCIRF’s recommendation and designate India as a Country of Particular Concern, and calling on the U.S. government to impose targeted sanctions on extremist organizations and individuals responsible for inciting violence against Christians.
“While Christians have been facing violent persecution in India for years under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s far-right government, December of 2025 was a prime example of just home emboldened and violent anti-Christian hatred has become,” said IAMC President Mohammed Jawad. “That this violence reached a crescendo around Christmas, a time of joy for Christians everywhere, is a testament to the deepening climate of impunity and intolerance fostered by India’s ruling establishment.”
