Christians in Rajasthan, India, suffer rise in attacks following new anti-conversion law

A recently passed anti-conversion law in Rajasthan, India, has prompted an increase in attacks against Christians. Please pray.

Christians in the Indian state of Rajasthan are facing an increase in attacks just weeks after the state assembly passed a strict anti-conversion law.

The Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill was approved on 9 September, bringing stringent rules and severe penalties for alleged forced conversions. Under the new bill, voluntary conversions require the permission of the local authorities, and punishments could involve life imprisonment and fines up to the equivalent of around £21,000. Properties could also face confiscation and even demolition. All offences are non-bailable.

The bill now requires the assent of the governor to become law, but this is expected to be a formality. If approved, Rajasthan will join 12 other states in India in implementing anti-conversion laws, which are frequently misused to target Christians and other religious minorities. Uttarakhand is another state expected to follow.

Police side with extremists

Since the bill’s passage in September, there have already been five attacks, heightening fear and uncertainty amongst believers.

In one incident on 21 September, some 20 Christians had gathered for a service when Hindutva extremists barged in, accusing the pastor of forcibly converting people. When the believers defended their pastor against the false accusations, the extremists verbally abused and physically assaulted them, and threatened them with death unless they renounce their faith. Several were hospitalised.

Instead of reprimanding the extremists, the police arrested and imprisoned the pastor. Local Christian leaders requested his release and filed a complaint against the attackers. Initially, due to pressure from the extremists, the police refused to let the pastor go but, after lawyers intervened, he was released immediately. No legal action has yet been taken against the attackers.

Three days later, on 24 September, extremists protested against the Hindustan Bible Institute. When two officials belonging to the institute arrived for a routine inspection, they were accused by the protestors of forced conversion activities. The officials were detained following a complaint by the extremists. Their phones, institute documents and property papers were confiscated.

Three further incidents were reported on 28 September, each involving the arrests of pastors whilst leading church services. The churches have subsequently closed.

With extremists actively targeting Christian gatherings in the state, local Open Doors partners were forced to relocate persecution survival training to a safer area.

Vocal opposition

“After the anti-conversion law was introduced in the State Assembly, Hindutva extremists have become more active, targeting Christian gatherings and accusing pastors of false conversions,” shares Shiv Rathod*, an Open Doors local partner. “The police are under pressure from extremists to register false cases and arrest pastors and believers.”

When the bill was passed last month, opposition parties walked out in protest, stating it would bring tension and disharmony. Several Christian organisations and leaders have since challenged it, arguing that it contravenes Article 25 of the Indian Constitution, which grants citizens the fundamental right to freedom of religion. Other civic groups have also raised concerns.

“With the passing of this bill, the most vulnerable are the Christians,” explains Shiv. “In the last 18 months, more than 150 persecution incidents have been reported in Rajasthan, where pastors have been arrested on false charges of coercive conversion, church services disrupted and many house churches closed. Christian believers are threatened to renounce their faith and return to their old religion. The law also states that those who return to their ancestral religion [Hinduism] will be exempted from the law.”

Local and national implications

Highlighting the damaging implications of the new Bill, Shiv adds: “If the bill gets the approval and is executed as law, there will be strict monitoring and surveillance on Christian activities. Every goodwill work carried out by Christian organisations will be labelled as an ‘allurement’ for conversion. The Hindutva extremist will misuse the law against the Christians, and more incidents of persecution will be reported.”

There could be wider ramifications. “Rajasthan, led by a Hindutva state government, has modelled its new anti-conversion bill following Uttar Pradesh and Uttarakhand states,” says Open Doors partner, Priya Sharma*. “These developments by the religious fundamentalist’s government pose a threat to the secularism of the country and restrict freedom of expression, freedom of religion and assembly. With such stricter laws, these states are propagating one of the agendas of the central government – one nation, one religion.”

Support and prayer

Despite the risks, Open Doors local partners are reaching out to churches in India with persecution survival training and programmes, as well as providing immediate assistance to affected victims, wherever possible.

“Please pray for the protection and strength of the Christians in Rajasthan and other parts of the country,” says Priya. “Christians and other minorities are always under threat and most vulnerable with such punitive laws.”

*Name changed for security reasons