Top court calls forced conversions dangerous
The Indian Supreme Court, in a ruling on Monday, November 14th, asked the government to act against so-called “forced religious conversion”, calling it “dangerous” and potentially affecting national security. The ruling was in a response to a petition that alleges that “fraudulent conversion” happens on a weekly basis and has become a “nationwide problem”.
“We are deeply disappointed about the honourable Supreme Court’s ruling, which is “unsubstantiated by verifiable facts or figures,” said OD spokesperson Rinzen Baleng. “The use of ambiguous and broad terms such as “threat to national security” deepens fears that “forced religious conversion” will increasingly be used to bring charges against individuals exercising their freedom of religion or belief which is protected by the constitution.”
Earlier this year the Delhi High Court ruled that a case filed by the same petitioner, requesting the court to direct the Delhi government to enact an anti-conversion law, was found lacking evidence and statistics. “This is a very worrisome development,” said local OD partner James Kumar about the Supreme Court ruling. “The court confirms the existence of ‘fraudulent conversion’ based not on research but on religious extremist propaganda,” said Kumar whose real name cannot be mentioned because of security reasons.
“What is more, the court has asked the national government to take action while religion is a matter that falls within the individual state’s jurisprudence,” he said. “What we might now see is that the national government will try to force all state governments to introduce anti-conversion laws.”
'Rampant misuse'
While India’s constitution protects religious freedom and citizens are free to convert (back) to Hinduism, for those who wish to convert to a minority religion such as Christianity or Islam this freedom is restricted through ‘anti-conversion laws’. Such legislation is in place in 11 states and prohibits religious conversion through allurement, force, or coercion or any other fraudulent means. Open Doors research has shown that violence against religious minorities in India has been on the rise, especially in states that have implemented these anti-conversion laws.
In Uttar Pradesh, for example, Christians are worried about a recent spike of arrests. “The rampant misuse of the state’s anti-conversion law has made life miserable for Christians,” Isaac Singh, a Christian leader. 30 pastors are currently in detention on charges of forcing people to convert to Christianity. Meanwhile UN member states have called on India to protect Christians and other religious minorities from increasing hate speech and violence.
India’s human track record was under the spot light during Universal Periodic Review by the United Nations Human Rights Council in Geneva earlier this month. A dozen states urged the Indian government to ensure that anti-conversion laws do not infringe upon the right to freedom of religion and belief, to investigate cases of religious violence and discrimination on religious grounds, and to condemn violence and hate speech against religious minorities.
Last month Dr. Fernand de Varennes, United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, called for an Independent Investigation Mechanism to be established in the light of increasing hate speech, violence targeting minorities and growing impunity.
Please pray for India
- Give thanks to God that many people are coming to know Jesus after being healed of sickness; pray that this will continue.
- Pray that social media companies will do more to combat the spread of disinformation and hatred on their platforms.
