INDIA

Despite being a “secular democratic republic,” India is still “not a very safe place for its tiny Christian minority,” says a report released by a top official in the All India Christian Council (AICC). The Christian community faced at least one crime against it every third day during 2006, with a total of 128 cases recorded in the media, said the report compiled by John Dayal, general secretary of the council. “The figure may actually be much higher,” said Dayal in the introduction to his “Unofficial White Paper on Violence against Christians in India * 2006.” (Ecumenical News International)