Police arrested over 4000 Christians who marched peacefully today in Delhi, India, in opposition to the upsurge of anti-Christian violence sweeping the country.

More than 4,000 protestors marched through the streets of India's capital today to call for the Union Government of India to break its silence on violence against Christians across the country have been arrested by the police.

The rally, called "Stop Violence On Christians", was organised after two recently televised attacks on Christians and an increase of anti-Christian incidents in the first few months of 2007.

Police held the detainees for about an hour and then released them all. John Dayal, secretary-general of the All India Christian Council, and president of the All India Catholic Union reports that, while in custody, the protestors filled the police station with gospel singing.

"It was incredible to see Catholic nuns, Protestant pastors, civil society activists and others singing Christian songs of liberation within the police station."

The march was organised after an unabated wave of persecution, public humiliation, and violence against Christians throughout India, typically perpetrated by Hindutva (Hindu nationalist) extremists, often with the acquiescence or connivance of local civil authorities.  Protest organizers stated that Christians have been victims of over one hundred acts of violence in the past six months.

Previous related posts: