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‘Just knowing he’s alive is enough’
Kuki tribe members protest against the killings in Manipur
Hindu nationalist one. He has been repeatedly harassed by local media and questioned by the police about his ministry, including under arrest; but without sufficient evidence to press any charges he was released.
to obstruct it and threaten them. Thankfully, in his case a prominent local Sikh politician stepped in and ensured the building could continue. However, the case of this benevolent politician is an exception in a country where many state governments (India is federal and each of its 28 states
benefits are not only permitted but often encouraged and funded by
the state. Furthermore, in practice these laws do not apply only to ‘new converts’ but to anyone following minority faiths in those states. Even the traditional Anglican Church of North India has recently had its organisational status revoked by the Government, severely restricting its capacity to receive external funds. World Vision, the humanitarian aid organisation, has been similarly affected.
Mohan explained that a mob, who were unhappy that a family whose daughter experienced a miraculous healing after Christian prayer had stopped coming to the temple and making regular offerings, complained so much about his release that he was arrested again and imprisoned on false charges. Mohan told us that ‘each day in the prison was like a month. It was like hell’. Another prisoner beat him and he got a skin infection from a dirty prison blanket. Thankfully his brother was able to engage a lawyer who got him released after a month, but his case is ongoing, requiring him to attend court each month. Our partner in India provides legal assistance to many pastors in
can pass their own laws) are passing ‘anti-conversion laws’ which put ever-tighter restrictions on Christian activity, contravening the constitution of India which guarantees religious freedom for all Indians. Twelve
states have passed anti-conversion laws with ambiguous wording about ‘inducements’ which are easily manipulated to provoke arrest even for praying for a neighbour in their house or offering someone a Bible. This prohibition on conversion applies only to those wishing to become Christians or Muslims. Becoming a Hindu, in contrast, is not seen as conversion, but as a ‘home- coming’ for which inducements and
‘Each day in the prison was like a month. It was like hell’
Pastors who continue to minister within these states now face real risks of arrest and imprisonment as well
as attacks and intimidation. Pastor ‘Mohan’*, for example, is from Uttar Pradesh (UP), which is India’s most populous state and its most fervently
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