Christians arrested over allegations of 'forced conversions' in India

Suzette Gutierrez Cachila Wednesday, May 25, 2016

Three Christians were arrested on Sunday, May 22 in Satna, Madhya Pradesh after being charged of forcibly converting and insulting the religious sentiments of certain Hindus.

The Rev. V.A. Anthony from the Brethren Assembly Church was on his way back from Aber with his wife and another Christian woman after a weekly time of prayer when policemen stopped them and held them in custody. Their request for bail was denied and they were imprisoned, a report said.

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The arrest was made in connection with an incident that occurred two weeks prior. The three Christians reportedly attempted to convert three Hindus named Hemraj Varma, Rambhan Adivasis and Prashant Gupta from Goraiya village by telling them that they will be guaranteed a job if they convert to Christianity.

The three Hindus claimed that Anthony and his companions tore an image of Hindu gods, an act that "offended their religious feelings" and made them decide not to convert to Christianity. They went to the police and filed a complaint against Anthony and the two women.

The three Christians were charged with violating section 295A of the Indian Penal Code, which pertains to "deliberate and malicious acts intended to outrage religious feelings." According to Mithilesh Shukla, police superintendent in Satna, the three Christians were also guilty of Sections 3 and 4 of Madhya Pradesh's "anti-conversion law" or the Freedom of Religion Act.

Villagers speculate that the arrest was the handiwork of influential Hindu extremists, who were with the police when Anthony and the two women were brought in.

Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC) president Sajan K. George condemned the arrests, saying Anthony, his wife and the other Christian woman did nothing wrong. George maintained that the three were imprisoned "based on false allegations of forced convertions."

George said Christians face constant fear in Madhya Pradesh because of the anti-conversion law, which tramples on people's freedom of religion. Anthony's case is the second of its kind recorded this month.