INDIA: Rajasthan Considers Anti-Conversion Law

25 June 2024

Source: International Christian Concern

The North Indian state of Rajasthan is considering an anti-conversion law to prevent fraudulent and forceful religious conversions.

If implemented, Rajasthan could become the 11th of 28 Indian states to have enacted an anti-conversion law. Other states that have the law include Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Uttarakhand, and Uttar Pradesh. Of these, Madhya Pradesh and Odisha are among the earliest to have passed such legislation. Their anti-conversion laws date back to the 1960s.

Rajasthan informed the Supreme Court that it is in the process of proposing a law against religious conversions soon but that in doing so, it would strictly abide by any related laws on the subject passed by the Supreme Court.

Rajasthan submitted this response in an affidavit filed in response to a 2022 public interest litigation seeking directions to the central and state governments to take “stringent steps to control fraudulent religious conversion and religious conversion by intimidation, threatening, deceivingly luring through gifts and monetary benefits.”

Many state governments led by the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have enacted laws that they say check religious conversions, mostly from other faiths to Christianity, by forced or fraudulent means.

Most anti-conversion laws target Christian missionaries and churches that attract people who want to convert from other faiths due to personal convictions or miracles and healings, which can happen after they believe in Jesus Christ.

Right-wing fanatical groups and other anti-Christian organisations that claim these conversions are false or forced put pressure on governments to enact anti-conversion laws in states that do not yet have them.

Recently, the Karnataka government, now headed by the moderate Indian National Congress, rolled back an anti-conversion law enacted by the state’s previous BJP government.

EXPLORE THE GLOBAL PRAYER GUIDE

Learn about global persecution trends and what it means to follow Christ in restricted and hostile nations.

Learn more

Stay informed

Receive weekly emails with the latest prayer points from the persecuted church

    Pray for them

    Pray that God will touch the hearts of government officials trying to stop evangelical work.

    Pray that the negative and unjust consequences of the anti-conversion laws in other states may serve as a warning to those in authority.

    Pray for those experiencing increased persecution from Hindu extremists across India. Ask God to strengthen and unify the church.

    Recent News

    PAKISTAN: Attempted Rape of Christian Teen Faces False Theft Allegations Read more
    IRAN: Muslim Background Believer Released on Bail, Wife Interrogated Read more
    NIGERIA: Over 90 Christians Slain in Continued Attacks Read more

    Submit a Prayer

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Join our community

    @vomaustralia @vomau