International
Christian Concern (ICC) learned that the Bharatiya Janata Party
(BJP)-led government of Madhya Pradesh has approved an ordinance
entitled The Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Ordinance 2020. The
ordinance replaces the Madhya Pradesh’s Religious Freedom Act of 1968
and is considered by lawmakers to be the most stringent anti-conversion
law in India.
On January 9, the anti-conversion ordinance was
promulgated by the Governor of Madhya Pradesh, Anandiben Patel. The
ordinance was approved by the Madhya Pradesh State Cabinet on December
26, 2020, with the intention to curb forcible or fraudulent religious
conversions.
With the Madhya Pradesh Legislature not in session,
the constitution gives the governor power to promulgate the ordinance,
which will have the same effect as law. The ordinance will, however,
only be valid for six months and will need to be confirmed by the Madhya
Pradesh State Legislature when it reconvenes.
According to the
ordinance, individuals seeking to change their religion will need to
apply to the district administration 60 days in advance. Religious
leaders facilitating religious conversions would also need to inform the
district administration 60 days in advance. If the previsions of the
ordinance are not followed individuals could face a sentence of three to
five years in jail and a financial penalty of 50,000 rupees.
The
ordinance also criminalizes forceful religious conversions with a jail
term of one to five years’ imprisonment and a fine of 25,000 rupees.
Section 3 of the ordinance increases these punishments to two to 10
years’ imprisonment and a fine of 50,000 rupees for individuals
forcefully converting minors, women, or individuals belonging to a
Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe.
Radical Hindu nationalists
use the specter of mass religious conversions to Christianity and Islam
as justification to pass similar laws limiting religious freedom.
According to these nationalists, Indian Christians and Muslims are
accused of converting poor Hindus to Christianity and Islam in mass by
fraudulent means.
In regards to Christianity, India’s own
population data does not support this conspiracy. In 1951, the first
census after independence, Christians made up 2.3% of India’s
population. According to the 2011 census, the most recent census data
available, Christians still make up 2.3% of the population.
In
states where similar anti-conversion laws are currently enacted,
including Odisha, Uttar Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh,
Gujarat, Jharkhand, Himachal Pradesh, and Uttarakhand, they are widely
abused. Radical nationalists falsely accuse Christians of forcefully
converting individuals to Christianity to justify harassment and
assault. Local police often overlook violence perpetrated against
Christians due to false accusations of forced conversion.
To
date, no individual has been convicted of forced conversions in India.
This is in spite of the fact that some of the anti-conversion laws have
been on the books since 1967.
William Stark, ICC’s Regional Manager, said, “We
here at International Christian Concern are deeply disappointed to see
Madhya Pradesh approve this anti-conversion ordinance. Especially
concerning is the pride with which lawmakers in Madhya Pradesh claim
this new ordinance is the most stringent anti-conversion law in India.
Similar laws are widely abused by radical Hindu nationalists due to
their legal ambiguity. Ultimately, anti-conversion laws provide legal
cover for nationalists to attack India’s Christians and Muslims with
impunity. One simply needs to claim someone was engaged in forceful
conversions to justify an assault. With attacks on Indian Christians and
other minorities continuing to escalate, the approval of another
anti-conversion ordinance will only incite more religiously motivated
violence.”
International Christian Concern is a non-partisan, 501(c)(3) charitable organization focused on human rights, religious freedom and assisting the persecuted Christian Church around the world.
Media Contact
Olivia Miller, Communications Coordinator
E-mail: press@persecution.org
Phone: (301)-859-3842
International Christian Concern
2020 Pennsylvania Ave. NW #941, Washington, D.C. 20006
www.persecution.org | E-mail: icc@persecution.org
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