CHRISTIAN SOLIDARITY WORLDWIDE

For immediate release

October 10 2002

NEW LAW IN INDIAN STATE THREATENS CHRISTIAN CONVERSIONS

A new law in the southern state of Tamil Nadu is being seen as a direct threat to Christian conversions in India.

The Chief Minister and the Governor of the state together issued an ordinance on October 5 which claims to ban only those conversions which are ‘by force or fraud’. However, it is being widely viewed as an attempt to prevent all conversions to Christianity in the state.

Militant Hindu groups such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) have waged a growing campaign against Christian conversions. The leader of another militant group, the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), claimed recently: “No-one converts voluntarily. It is motivated by greed.”

Militant Hindu groups have alleged that all conversion to Christianity happens ‘by force or fraud’ and their influence can be seen behind the ordinance. So far only one other state, Orissa, has a similar ordinance in force, but Christians fear this will spread to other states.

There is a similar bill pending in the national Parliament, which even claims that provision of free education by Christians and others is an ‘inducement’ to conversion, and will incur heavy penalties.

There are many precedents across India of militant Hindu groups claiming that genuine conversions to Christianity have been fraudulent or induced. An ordinance such as this will make it easier for such groups to harrass and obstruct Christians witnessing to non-Christians.

Christian evangelists are among those most targeted by militant Hindus already. With such an ordinance in force, it gives all the more excuse for mobs to attack evangelists, on the pretext that they are breaking the law.

Other groups are also being targeted, such as the Dalits (untouchables) and other marginalized groups, some of whom have converted to religions such as Buddhism to escape the oppression they encounter under the Hindu caste system.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide’s partner organisation, the All India Christian Council (AICC), plans to challenge the ordinance in court. The Council noted that “forcible or induced conversion…is rejected by the church” and that voluntary conversion is “a basic human right and is guaranteed in the Indian Constitution and by the United Nations.”

Mervyn Thomas, Chief Executive of CSW, said: “This is a very worrying development for religious minorities in India. This legislation means that genuine conversions will be viewed as having taken place under duress.

“We are right behind the AICC in their bid to overturn this ruling as it represents a very serious threat to religious liberty in India.”

For more information, contact Richard Chilvers at Christian Solidarity Worldwide on 020 8949 0587 or 020 8942 8810 or email or go to http://www.csw.org.uk

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