When Silence Becomes Complicity: The Cancellation of Franklin Graham’s Visit to Nagaland

I am not surprised to learn about the cancellation of Franklin Graham’s visa by the Hindu-led Modi government in India. If we take the Bible seriously, then we must accept that followers of Christ — and especially Christian leaders — will face strong opposition from the world. The denial of his visa is yet another reminder of this truth.

Christian persecution has become a global crisis. We have witnessed its ugly face rise in countries such as Nigeria, where Christians are being killed, displaced, and terrorised by extremist groups. The same pattern of hostility is visible in Pakistan, Afghanistan, North Korea, Somalia, Eritrea, Sudan, and China — nations where believers are jailed, surveilled, brutalised, or forced underground for simply practising their faith. Even in our own country, India, the rise of anti-Christian sentiment, attacks on churches, and tightening restrictions on religious activities illustrate an unmistakable trend.

Franklin Graham’s planned visit to Nagaland was intended to rekindle a spiritual legacy stretching back to 1972, when his father, Billy Graham, preached to thousands in Kohima. For many Naga Christians, this visit carried both emotional and historical significance. Yet, the denial of his visa — under the claim that India does not permit entry to “preachers and evangelists” for religious events — reveals how visa policies are increasingly being used to suppress Christian gatherings and leaders.

However, what troubles many is not just New Delhi’s action, but the silence of our own Naga leaders. The Modi government has cultivated a strong hold over Naga politicians through political alliances, electoral dependencies, and the promise of financial packages tied to peace negotiations and development. As a result, many leaders appear unwilling, or perhaps afraid, to speak boldly on matters of faith and religious liberty. Their silence in the face of Franklin Graham’s visa denial only reinforces the perception that political expediency now outweighs moral responsibility.

This is not an isolated incident. We recall the case of Pastor John Roughton, founder and pastor of Spirit of Faith Church in Dimapur, who was previously detained and sent back by the BJP-led government. His deportation, too, was met with near-total silence from Naga political leaders — a silence that spoke volumes. It revealed a leadership reluctant to confront the Centre, even when the Christian identity of the Naga people is at stake.

When leaders choose silence, the community suffers. When political convenience outweighs conviction, truth and responsibility are pushed to the backseat, leaving space for fear, compromise, and hypocrisy to flourish.