Source: Mission Network News, April 16, 2018
For centuries, a group of people in India went by the name “untouchables.” Today, these same people are referred to as Dalits and despite their new title, they continue to face discrimination and worse in Indian society. And it’s all in the name of religion.
In recent nationwide protests led by the Dalits, at least eight people were killed. Streets, buildings, public transportation, and educational institutes were temporarily shut down.
The angry response came after a Supreme Court ruling which Dalits believe leaves them more vulnerable to the abuses of society.
David Curry of Open Doors USA says, “It’s really brought to light, yet again, the challenge that we have in India for human rights, in particular recognizing that each and every individual is of value, and of equal value.
“We’ve seen it before … when we look at the rising persecution of Christians in India. It’s a significant portion of the population—about 65 million people are Christians in India. And yet they’ve seen this incredible rise of persecution.”
» Also read Converting to Buddhism as a Form of Political Protest (The Atlantic) and Big Brother in India Requires Fingerprint Scans for Food, Phones and Finances (New York Times).