Orissa fact sheet

• On 23 August 2008, a Maoist guerilla group in the state of Orissa, India, killed a leading Hindu activist, Swami Laxmanananda, who had directed persecution against Christians. Despite the Maoists publicly claiming responsibility for the assassination, Hindu extremists falsely accused Christians of the killing, unleashing a wave of violence against Christians living in Orissa.
  
  
• Since August 2008, the continuing extremist rampage has resulted in over 50,000 Christians being displaced, more than 4,000 homes destroyed and the murder of approximately 120 Christians. Over 300 villages and at least 250 churches were destroyed. More than 4,000 people are still living in refugee camps and thousands more have not returned to their villages because they fear for their lives or fear the threat of forced conversion to Hinduism.
  
  
• Dr Sajan K. George, National President of the Global Council of Indian Christians, said, "Unfortunately, 2008 saw the worst kind of regression in our society as the church in India experienced a wave of violence and persecution unprecedented since the origin of Christianity in India 2,000 years ago."
  
  
• This year India jumped from No. 30 to No. 22 on Open Doors' World Watch List of countries where Christians suffer the most persecution. Eight states in India have passed anti-conversion laws although only five states are currently implementing the law. Anti-conversion laws are designed to prevent Hindus from converting to Christianity despite the fact that India is the largest democracy in the world and its constitution guarantees freedom of religion.
  
  
• The violence in Orissa and in other states comes at a time when many Christians feel that Hindu fundamentalism is on the rise. The extremists' goal is to make India a Hindu nation rather than a secular one. There are an estimated 25 million Christians in India – roughly 2.3 per cent of the population, with 80.6 per cent Hindu and 13.4 per cent Muslim.
  
  
• Open Doors responded immediately to the crisis in Orissa by partnering with other Christian organisations inside India. The help included providing relief packets, food, shelter, medical assistance, trauma counselling, legal aid and biblical training and materials.
  
  
• 23 August 2009 marks the anniversary of the murder of the Hindu activist. This event rekindled the violence directed towards Christians in Orissa. Thousands still need physical, emotional and spiritual support. There remains a lack of food supplies and shelter as well as on-going persecution.
  
  
• To coincide with the anniversary, Open Doors will be initiating a campaign to: