Update: 12 more Christians arrested as Uttar Pradesh increases conversion punishment
Local believers and Open Doors partners believe a ‘revengeful drive’ following the BJP’s lost majority in the recent election is behind an increase in hostility against religious minorities in India, including a spate of Christian arrests in Uttar Pradesh in June.
At least 12 more Christians were arrested on a single day in June in Uttar Pradesh, a state in north India, facing accusations of ‘conversion activities’. Two pastors are among those arrested. This follows a spate of arrests earlier that month (see original story, below).
The crime for these men and women? Praying. Most of the arrests took place at prayer meetings in private homes – with local villagers having reported these believers to the police. Though the law purports to prevent forced or coerced conversion, it is often misused by Hindu nationalist extremists to target Christians who are simply holding prayer meetings or sharing the gospel.
Meanwhile, in a bail application for a man who allegedly took a mentally ill man to a Christian gathering, the Allahabad High Court in Uttar Pradesh ruled that illegal conversions had taken place – adding, “If this process is allowed to be carried out, the majority population of this country would in a minority one day. […] Such religious congregations should be immediately stopped where the conversion is taking place and changing the religion of citizens of India.”
Anti-conversion law punishment worsened
Being accused of breaking Uttar Pradesh’s anti-conversion law is now even more dangerous for India’s Christians. As of 30 July, the amended Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill 2024 has now added life imprisonment as a possible sentence for anyone found guilty of forcibly converting another person. Previously, the maximum prison sentence was ten years.
“The new amendments will accelerate and intensify the persecution of the Christian community.”
Abhay Kumar, Open Doors partner
Under the original law (2021), a complaint against forced conversion could only be filed by the victim or a blood relative. Once the new bill is signed, however, anyone can go to the police to lodge a complaint.
“Church leaders anticipate fearful times ahead as the new amendments will accelerate and intensify the persecution of the Christian community,” says Abhay Kumar*, a local Open Doors partner. “First-generation Christians will feel the immediate effect as they will be intensely targeted, and house churches and their pastors will be viewed as anti-national.”
The National Council of Churches in India also released a statement in which it condemned the new regulations. It said: “We object to this law in so far as it violates the provisions of the Indian Constitution. Conversion itself is not an offence unless induced by undue influence, misrepresentation, or coercion, which only the victim can claim.
“The anti-conversion law encroaches on the constitutional right to freely practise and profess religion, a fundamental human right recognised by both the Indian Constitution and international human rights standards.”
Please keep praying for Christians in Uttar Pradesh – for peace as they face increased danger, for strength and resilience from the Lord, and for grace to keep sharing the gospel with their neighbours and communities.
*Name changed for security reasons
9 July 2024
‘Revengeful drive’ following election behind spate of Christian arrests in India
At least 14 Christians in Uttar Pradesh, India, were arrested last month for alleged forced conversions in what is believed to be a response to the BJP party losing its majority in the recent election.
The arrests took place between 7 and 23 June, with most happening during prayer meetings. Two pastors were among those detained. Police acted in response to complaints from local villagers.
“A revengeful drive”
Uttar Pradesh is one of India’s 12 states with an anti-conversion law, prohibiting any attempt to force someone to convert to another religion (than Hinduism) through misrepresentation, force, undue influence, coercion, allurement or by fraudulent means. These are the accusations often levelled at Christians, when all they are doing is freely expressing or sharing their faith, such as gathering for prayer or telling a friend about Jesus.
Whilst provisions in the law stipulate that only a person who has been forced to convert, or a blood relative of theirs, can register a FIR (First Information Report) with the police, research has shown that most police reports are based on complaints by Hindutva groups – who believe that to be Indian is to be Hindu – to target Christians.
According to local Christians and Open Doors partners, the reason for the increase in arrests is because the governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) lost significantly in recent elections – something both the party and radical Hindu groups did not expect.
“The anti-conversion laws are misused and Christians are arrested on false charges”
Open Doors local partner
“A revengeful drive has led to increased atrocities against Christians and other religious minorities,” said one partner. “The anti-conversion laws are misused and Christians are arrested on false charges.”
Contradictory rulings
It comes as the Allahabad High Court in Uttar Pradesh ruled that religious conversion is unconstitutional. In a bail application for a man who allegedly took a mentally ill man to a Christian gathering and who then did not return home, the court said conversions had taken place at the event.
“If this process is allowed to be carried out, the majority population of this country would be in a minority one day,” the court said. “Such religious congregations should be immediately stopped where the conversion is taking place and changing the religion of citizens of India.”
However, the ruling appears to contradict Uttar Pradesh’s Supreme Court, which in May said the state might be violating people’s constitutional right to freedom of religion or belief with its anti-conversion law.
“The Supreme Court… orally commented that the Uttar Pradesh anti-conversion law in some parts may seem to be violative of the fundamental right to religion guaranteed under Article 25 of the Constitution,” it said.
Rajasthan could become the 12th state to adopt the anti-conversion law, with the government saying it plans to bring in an anti-conversion law. Local sources tell Open Doors that, with BJP leader Bhajan Lal Sharma as the state’s Chief Minister, the bill could be implemented soon.
Christians protest in Chhattisgarh
Meanwhile, tribal Christians in Chhattisgarh State took to the streets on 24 June to protest against violent attacks by militant Hindu groups. They walked in silence while holding placards that said, “We will not tolerate insults in the name of religion” and “Stop violence against Christians”.
Chhattisgarh has a sizable community of tribal Christians (some 30% of the population), and Hindu nationalist groups are pressurising them into converting back to Hinduism. In February, the state’s government announced its intention to tighten its anti-conversion law.
More than 1,000 tribal Christians were forced from their homes after a series of violent attacks on their villages in December 2022.
- For the safety, wellbeing and acquittal of all arrested believers
- That the anti-conversion laws will be repealed or amended to stop them from being misused to target religious minorities
- For wisdom, courage and discernment for Christians who are vulnerable to false accusations.
- Every £20 could provide training for ten believers, equipping them with a biblical response to persecution
- Every £30 could provide emergency food aid to two believers in India affected by violent persecution
- Every £47 could help a persecuted community establish their livelihood, giving them long-term financial security.