INDIA: NEW, HARSH PUNISHMENTS WILL RESTRICT SHARING ABOUT JESUS

Uttarakhand, a state in northern India, has approved amendments to its Freedom of Religion Bill – introducing new, harsher punishments TO STOP PEOPLE ATTEMPTING TO FORCE OTHERS TO CHANGE THEIR RELIGION.

These anti-conversion laws are designed to restrict or prohibit people from converting from one religion to another – in reality, away from Hinduism, as the laws do not cover conversion to Hinduism. So far, 12 states in India have passed such laws, citing the need to prevent conversions taking place forcibly through ‘inducement’ and ‘coercion’.

In practice, anti-conversion laws are abused to target Christians and other religious minorities. Everyday faith practices – like holding a prayer meeting – are treated as illegal, and those against Christianity often make baseless accusations as a form of persecution.

Key amendments

The latest bill includes the following changes (as reported by The Indian Express):

• Jail terms range from three years to life imprisonment
• If foreign funding is involved in conversion, it is punishable with 14 years of imprisonment and fines up to a million rupees (about four years’ average salary)
• Promoting or inciting conversion through social media, messaging apps or any online or digital means is now punishable
• Acts that praise one religion while criticising another may be subject to penalties
• Arrests can be made without a warrant, and bail is only granted if the court is convinced the accused is not guilty or unlikely to reoffend
• The definition of ‘allurement’ now includes gifts, material benefits or employment
• The definition of ‘victim’ is expanded to anyone ‘harmed by the offence’, including guardians and legal heirs of the person who converts.

The bill will become law when passed by the governor, however this is considered a formality.

Acts of kindness now punishable

“This newly amended bill is a huge threat for ordinary Christians,” says Rahul Singh*, a local Open Doors partner. “The simplest act of kindness to another person can be seen as an ‘inducement’ to convert them and they can be punished severely.”

He warns that these latest amendments are part of a larger pattern of growing hostility to minority religions in India, including Christianity and Islam. “Several Hindutva-led state governments are amending their anti-conversion laws, including Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh,” he says, referencing an extreme form of Hindu nationalism. “Hindutva nationalists are misusing these laws and attacking Christians and churches. With such stringent laws, following Christ in India comes with painful consequences.”

More than 40 persecution incidents this year

Open Doors partner Priya Sharma* shares: “Amid the increasing atrocities, the changes to the bill have worsened the situation for Christians in the state. And it raises serious concerns over violations of fundamental rights.

“From January to July 2025, more than 40 persecution incidents have been reported in Uttarakhand, where Christians were attacked, church services disrupted, churches closed, pastors falsely alleged in forced conversion cases, and discrimination. Every prayer meeting is perceived as a conversion gathering. Even acts of social service and kindness by organisations are being alleged as ‘allurement’ for religious conversion by extremists.”

House churches banned in Chhattisgarh

Meanwhile, more than 200 house churches in another state of India – Chhattisgarh – are adversely impacted by new restrictions on worshipping inside a house. The churches, in and around the state capital of Raipur, were forced to shut, supposedly to ‘maintain law and order’, and because of complaints of religious conversion.

Christians persevere, with prayer

Rahul Singh says that Christians in Uttarakhand, and across India, will not be forced to stop practising their faith, despite these tightening laws: “They are alarmed, but they’re also prepared, and they won’t give up on their faith,” he says. “Christians are prepared to face or withstand this because they get courage from the Lord to stand strong and withstand persecution.”

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