India: Increase in attacks against Christians, existing anti-conversion laws hardened

Karnataka state alone has witnessed 1,000 cases of persecution of Christians in the three years from 2010, according to former high court judge Michael Saldana.

Release International, which is running a petition calling for religious freedom in India, is condemning a controversial new anti-conversion law. India's Madhya Pradesh state has taken steps to harden up its existing anti-conversion law, effectively overturning the religious freedom guaranteed under India's constitution. The Bill requires anyone wanting to change their religion to first seek official permission. It obliges religious leaders to report conversions, and mandates a three-year jail sentence for failing to do so. That rises to four years in the case of a minor, a woman or a Dalit (untouchable). The Bill, passed by the legislative assembly on July 10, has yet to be signed off by the governor. The new law represents a significant hardening of official attitudes towards religious freedom. Seven Indian states have passed anti-conversion laws, as a result of pressure from Hindu nationalists who support Hindutva - the ideology of 'one religion, one language, one nation'. They believe that to be Indian is to be Hindu and have hardened up the law in Madhya Pradesh to make changing faith more difficult. A flashpoint is the conversion of Dalits - the so-called out-castes, or untouchables, who are beyond the caste system. Militant Hindus see Christian outreach to the Dalits as an attack against their culture. Attacks against Christians are increasing, according to partners of Release International, which supports the persecuted Church around the world. 'Release International is deeply concerned about the rise of Hindu extremism and the growing culture of religious intolerance in India,' says Release Chief Executive Paul Robinson. 'We will be presenting a petition in November calling on India to uphold the religious freedom guaranteed under its constitution.' Karnataka state alone has witnessed 1,000 cases of persecution of Christians in the three years from 2010, according to former high court judge Michael Saldana. And in Odisha state in 2008, mobs killed more than 100 Christians, drove 50,000 from their homes, and destroyed more than 4,000 houses. 'Attacks on Christians in India are definitely increasing,' says Joseph D'Souza, the President of Release partner, the All India Christian Council. 'These attacks take the form of physical violence, destruction of churches, false cases and arrests. They are co-ordinated.' The AICC has launched a legal challenge to the anti-conversion laws. The Release petition says: 'Article 25 guarantees all persons the freedom of conscience and the right to preach, practise and propagate any religion of their choice. However, Christian pastors and evangelists, notably in the rural areas of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh, are frequently attacked by Hindu extremists and then detained by police on false charges of "forcing people to convert".' The petition urges the Indian government to stop the attacks on its own citizens and to bring those responsible to justice. It calls on them to uphold Christians' rights under the Constitution to practise and propagate their faith without fear of being falsely accused or imprisoned.