Christians in India are reeling from a new law passed by the Tamil Nadu state government this weekend banning forced or induced conversions.
The ordinance, issued on October 5, bans religious conversions "by force, allurement or fraudulent means" without defining the terms. Violators are subject to three years' imprisonment, except in cases where the converts are minors, women, or members of scheduled castes or tribes. In those cases the imprisonment could extend to four years with an additional fine of 100,000 rupees ($2000). In every instance, both the convert and the minister involved must report to the magistrate.
The ordinance follows the pattern of those passed by the Madhya Pradesh state government in 1968, and the Arunachal Pradesh state government in 1978. Orissa enacted the "Orissa Freedom of Religion Act" in 1968, which was overturned by a higher court, and then restored by India's Supreme Court in 1973.
According to J.N. Manokaran of the India Missions Association, statistics do not warrant such a law. Census figures showed the Christian population at 5.69% in 1991, down from 5.78% in 1981 and 5.75% in 1971.
Christians fear the new law will hinder their free exercise of religion by embroiling them in restrictive regulations. They point out the penalties are especially severe for converts among the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes, which they believe was designed to thwart the conversion of Dalits to Christianity. The law may also encourage many to bring false charges against Christian ministers and intimidate new believers. Some fear that chapel services in Christian schools, hospitals and children's homes may even be viewed as violating the new law.
India's constitution guarantees freedom of religion. "This ordinance is a violation of human rights," Manokaran told Christian Aid. "Human beings have the freedom to choose in what they believe, object of worship and manner of worship. This right cannot be deprived from anybody, including women and members of the scheduled castes and scheduled tribes."
The All India Christian Council said today it will challenge the new law in court. The AICC also is calling for a nationwide non-violent protest on October 19, with a major protest rally in Chennai (Madras), the capital of Tamil Nadu. "This is a do or die battle," AICC says church leaders are saying.
Many mission groups have originated in Tamil Nadu, including Church Growth Missionary Movement, Fellowship of Evangelical Friends, Friends Missionary Prayer Band, Tamil Christian Fellowship, Indian Bible Translators and India Missions Association.
To learn how you can assist indigenous Christian ministries on the India subcontinent, write [email protected] and put MI-340 600-MSF on the subject line.
Original publication date October 9, 2002
