Faith
Christian Families Blocked From Burial Rights in India
Faith Facts
- Christian families in Chhattisgarh, India, were refused burial rights for deceased relatives in their native villages due to their faith.
- Villagers demanded Hindu funeral rites and denied access to ancestral burial plots, despite legal entitlements.
- Authorities failed to enforce protections, leaving families to travel long distances for Christian burials.
The right to honor our loved ones in accordance with our faith is foundational, yet these families in India were deprived of this dignity because of their steadfast Christian beliefs.
Despite possessing rightful claims to burial grounds, they faced opposition rooted in intolerance and were left unprotected by local authorities.
“Christians were being systematically denied the dignity of burial in their own villages while local officials stood by,” stated Arun Pannalal, president of the Chhattisgarh Christian Forum.
Their ordeal is a somber reminder of the ongoing persecution Christians endure for standing firm in their faith, especially where religious freedom is under threat.
As believers, we are called to support fellow Christians facing injustice and to pray for religious liberty and respect for all, upholding our biblical values of compassion and justice.