Release International

Nepal's Christian minority are concerned about draft laws which they fear could make evangelism illegal.

Draft legislation for the new Nepali constitution would make it a criminal offence to play any part in another person changing their religion – with a maximum penalty of five years in jail and a fine of £420.

Christian leaders say they have not been consulted over these proposed constitutional changes – even though Prime Minister Jhalnath Khanal has already presented the draft documents to the Cabinet. They will now go to parliamentary committee for revision and approval, before being passed to the Constituent Assembly – Nepal's interim Parliament – to be passed into law.  President Ram Baran Yadav has final approval – and the power of veto.

Christians are particularly concerned over Clause 160 of the draft Act of Offence Against Religions which would make it an offence to 'convert a person or abet him to change his religion' whether this be with or without 'inducements'. Christians fear that this could jeopardise a number of activities that they see as central to their faith, including aid work.

Release sources say other clauses are causing alarm because they imply that challenging social injustices such as caste oppression and women's inequality would be illegal in so far as it undermined 'religious feelings'.

Christian leaders are reportedly seeking further information and legal advice in an effort to ensure that they are allowed input in to the process from now on. Some fear the Nepal equivalent of the 'anti-conversion' legislation operating in some states in neighbouring India, which has been misused against Christians.

The deadline for finalising the constitution was extended by three months from the start of June.

Nepal became a secular state when the Hindu monarchy was abolished and the country was declared a republic in 2008. Under its transitional constitution, 'proselytising' is already banned but Nepali citizens are currently 'free to express their faith', including through charity work.

(Sources: AsiaNews, BBC, Christian Today, Compass Direct)

• Pray that President Ram Baran Yadav and the Assembly will require significant changes to the draft constitution to uphold religious freedom for all citizens.
• Pray too that Christians in Nepal will present a united front in opposing anything that limits religious freedom and will be allowed to help shape Nepal's new constitution.

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