Anti–conversion law may heighten religious persecutions, fear Mission India

New Delhi – In the wake of a proposal made by a Hindu right–wing party of a national anti–conversion law that is expected to stifle the voice of the Christian community, Mission India, the U.S.–based Christian Mission Organisation, has warned its partners to be on their guards and exercise discretion.

The Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP or World Hindu Council) first proposed the law in August, which, if implemented, could mean not simply imprisonment of up to 10 years for Christian converts but also for foreign nationals and organisations engaged in conversion activity.

According to Dave Stravers of Mission India, even in the early stages, heightened persecution was expected. “Just the fact that a major party is proposing such a law will give courage to Hindu extremists to persecute Christians in their region,” Mission Network News (MNN) quoted him as stating. “It’s kind of like the government is saying ‘We’re really behind you on this, so go ahead.’”

MNN fears that, although an anti–conversion law would go against India’s Constitution, the idea could catch on and lead to violence similar to that of the Hindu–Muslim tensions.

Stravers warned Christians in India to be particularly careful in light of the growing numbers of Dalits converting to the Christian faith and the rising number of churches.

“We have more than one thousand churches and mission agencies within India, mostly indigenous agencies that depend on the training that we provide and the materials that we give to discipleship efforts,” he said. “If affects us indirectly because it’s these people, our partners, who are the ones being attacked.”

Expressing concern for the minority community in India, Mission India has called on Christians to pray for their workers who are involved in spreading the Gospel throughout India at this precarious time.