Hindu-Muslim family’s choice of cremation arouses anger

The dispute has especially swept up several bustling blocks in Jackson Heights, where dozens of businesses are Bengali. It had business owners on edge during the busy shopping season before this week’s Id al-Fitr festival. The festival marks the end of the Muslim holy month of Ramadan and brings throngs of shoppers to dine and to buy jewelry and sparkling traditional dresses.

For those who don't know, there can be no such thing as a "Hindu-Muslim family." According to Islam, Muslim men can only marry women who are Muslim, Christian, or Jewish and Muslim women can only marry Muslim men.

Christian groups say politics behind India attacks

From the rape of a nun to arson and killings, Christian leaders in India accuse Hindu nationalist groups of deliberately targeting Christians in eastern India to support their political agenda and shore up their support base.

India struggles with Hindu attacks on Christians

In this Sept. 15, 2008 file photo police officers chase away a Christian protester protesting against the attack on churches in Mangalore, India. Asked about a surge in anti-Christian violence that has swept India in recent weeks, the Sikh prime minister of this largely Hindu country was adamant in his denunciations: 'We are a secular state. We are a multireligious, multicultural nation,' Manmohan Singh told reporters during a stopover in France. He called the attacks 'acts of national shame.' (AP Photo, File)

Christians protest attacks by Hindus in India

“We are quite disappointed with both the federal government and state governments as violence against Christians has spread to several states in the past month,’’ said Dominic Emmanuel, a spokesman for the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India. The clashes between Hindus and Christians started in the Kandhamal district of Orissa state on Aug 24 following the killing of a Hindu religious leader. At the time, police blamed Maoist rebels active in the area, but right-wing Hindu groups blamed local Christians and set fire to a Christian orphanage.

Why are Christians under attack in India?

The government has deployed hundreds more federal police to eastern India after one person was killed and several injured in the latest clashes between Hindus and Christians triggered by religious conversions. More than 20 people, mostly Christians, have been killed and churches burned over the past month.

Anti-Christian attacks flare in India

CHURCH VANDALIZED: In Karnataka last week, Christian protesters also clashed with police. SK Mohan

While Hindu nationalists claim that the unrest is caused by missionaries forcing conversions on Hindus, Christians – and most secular observers – say the violence is politically motivated, designed to win votes for the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party.

Hindus burn more churches in India

"The trouble between the communities was reportedly sparked after Hindu right-wing organisations objected to plans by local Christian groups to celebrate Christmas in a big way. About 100,000 of Khandamal’s 650,000 populations are Christians while most of the rest are Hindus."

I wonder how "big" a Christmas celebration the Christians wanted to hold?