Release International

Hindu nationalists are planning to bring in controversial 'anti-conversion' laws in one of the Indian states worst hit by recent anti-Christian riots.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of Karnataka state has announced its intention to follow the lead of seven other Indian states which have approved these laws – much to the dismay of Karnataka's Christian community.

While anti-conversion laws are supposed to prevent forcible or fraudulent conversion, they are widely seen as a way of criminalising religious conversion in general. Similar legislation in states such as Orissa and Gujarat has been misused by Hindu extremists wanting to limit church activities.

The Global Council of Indian Christians reports that pressure on Karnataka's Christians has increased since the BJP came to power. It recorded 112 attacks in 2008. Last September alone, at least 33 churches were targeted and 53 Christians injured.

Christian leaders say state government efforts to bring extremists to justice have been half-hearted. The leader of Hindu extremist organisation Bajrang Dal was arrested after publicly admitting his involvement in attacks on Christians – but then released on bail.

Meanwhile, in Orissa state, the epicentre of last year's anti-Christian violence, Christians continue to live in fear. Compass Direct reports the murder of Hrudayananda Nayak, a fathers-of-two found dead in a forest near his village of Rudangia in Kandhamal district last month. He had allegedly received death threats from Hindu nationalists.

(Sources: Compass Direct, The Voice of the Martyrs Canada)

Pray that the BJP's plans for anti-conversion laws in Karnataka will be thwarted.

Pray that officials in states such as Orissa and Karnataka will do more to protect the religious rights of the Christian community and to ensure their safety.

Back to top