Listeners:
Top listeners:
-
play_arrow
India’s Chhattisgarh Enacts Tough Anti-Conversion Law, Christians Raise Alarm
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – A new anti-conversion law in India’s Chhattisgarh state is drawing sharp criticism from Christian leaders and human rights advocates, who warn it could intensify persecution against religious minorities.
Governor Ramen Deka signed the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill 2026 into law on April 7, replacing a 1968 statute that critics say was already widely misused against Christians.
The legislation criminalizes religious conversions carried out through force, fraud, inducement, or marriage, including those conducted via digital platforms. However, the law explicitly exempts conversions to Hinduism and does not classify “reconversion” to ancestral Hindu faith as a conversion.
Penalties under the new law are among the harshest in India. Standard violations carry prison terms of seven to 10 years, while cases involving minors, women, or members of disadvantaged communities can result in 10 to 20 years behind bars. “Mass conversions”—defined as two or more individuals—can bring sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment.
Christian organizations, including the Progressive Christian Alliance and the Evangelical Fellowship of India, condemned the law as discriminatory. Leaders argue it effectively criminalizes legitimate expressions of Christian faith while empowering authorities and vigilante groups.
The law also imposes strict requirements on those involved in conversions, including mandatory registration with authorities and public disclosure of personal details—provisions critics say expose individuals to harassment and intimidation.
The bill was passed by the state assembly on March 19 amid a boycott by opposition lawmakers. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai defended the legislation, saying it is necessary to protect vulnerable communities from coercion and preserve cultural identity.
The move comes as India’s Supreme Court of India reviews similar anti-conversion laws from multiple states. Meanwhile, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has warned of a continued decline in religious freedom in the country, citing the expansion of such laws.
Chhattisgarh, where Christians make up less than 2 percent of the population, has already seen rising anti-Christian incidents in recent years. Church leaders fear the new legislation will embolden further persecution under legal cover.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
Latest News from Worthy News
A new anti-conversion law in India’s Chhattisgarh state is drawing sharp criticism from Christian leaders and human rights advocates, who warn it could intensify persecution against religious minorities.
Israel will expand its buffer zone in southern Lebanon while continuing military operations against Hezbollah, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Wednesday, following a security cabinet meeting that ended without a ceasefire agreement.
The United States Senate has voted down multiple resolutions aimed at halting U.S. weapons sales to Israel, but the votes revealed a notable shift within the Democratic Party, where support for such measures has surged in recent years.
House Democrats are preparing to introduce five articles of impeachment against War Secretary Pete Hegseth on Wednesday, intensifying political divisions in Washington over the Trump administration’s military campaign against Iran.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced a historic battlefield milestone this week, declaring that Ukrainian forces successfully captured a Russian position using only unmanned robotic systems—marking what he described as a first in modern warfare.
Iran secretly deployed a Chinese-built surveillance satellite to monitor U.S. military bases across the Middle East during the recent conflict, significantly enhancing its targeting capabilities, according to a new investigation by the Financial Times.
U.S. President Donald Trump declared Wednesday that the United States will not agree to any peace deal with Iran unless Tehran fully abandons its nuclear ambitions, reinforcing a hardline stance as diplomatic efforts continue amid rising regional tensions.
WHO WE ARE
The Psalms, hymns, and spiritual songs encapsulate the beauty, wisdom, and eternal truths found in the Bible, creating an immersive experience that resonates with believers and seekers alike.
CONTACT
- +1 908 280-4246
- Essex County, USA
- info@tnjrfm.com