National

Pentecostal mission center demolished in India; pastor, 17 others arrested

Published

1 year ago

October 17, 2023

Hindu nationalist government officials in northern India’s Uttar Pradesh state have demolished a Pentecostal mission center and arrested 18 people amid concerns over the persecution of the Christian minority in the country, according to reports.

The demolition took place last Wednesday in the Bhulandih area of Jaunpur district, according to the Union of Catholic Asia News. A special police squad tore down the Jeevan Jyoti Church mission center, which had existed for over a decade, and closed off roads leading to the mission center.

Eighteen individuals, including Pastor Durga Prasad Yadav, were arrested.

Yadav, his wife, Leela, and his brother, Jai Prakash, were accused of criminal conspiracy in an information report. Two days before the demolition, Yadav, his wife, son Manish, and associates, pastor Sanjay Masih of Mirzapur and Manoj Jacob, UP president of the Christian forum Rashtriya Isai Mahasangh, were arrested, The Wire reports.

According to the outlet, police also opened a case against Yadav under the UP Prevention of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act.

A senior government official, Neha Mishra, told UCA News that the demolition was aimed at “razing illegal structures on government land.” She claimed the mission center lacked official permission.

A church official refuted this, asserting that most of the center was not on government property, albeit admitting that a portion of the campus was.

“The wall was built with approval from local officials, but the permission was verbal,” the church official told UCA News.

A church official disclosed that unidentified people had torn down the boundary wall on Oct. 5.

The government subsequently ordered the mission to pay $3,400 to cover the cost of the demolition, local media reported.

Local government officials lodged three first information reports against managers of the prayer center in September, according to The Wire. The first report centers on the complaint of a revenue official who said the prayer center was built on land that was “illegally occupied” and that the land was initially allotted for burial grounds.

“The portion which was found to be legal and privately owned ‘was not touched,'” Deputy Superintendent of Police Gaurav Sharma told The Wire.

A source close to the situation told the outlet that even if a portion of the center was on government land, the administration could have exchanged it with additional land outside the compound.

Christians in Uttar Pradesh express rising apprehensions as the state enacted an anti-conversion law in 2021.

“The government does not want Christians to organize prayer services,” Pastor Dinesh Kumar told UCA News.

Presently, 89 Christians are jailed in Uttar Pradesh for alleged violations of this law, according to UCA News.

International Christian Concern, a U.S.-based persecution watchdog organization, warns that upcoming state elections in Uttar Pradesh have emboldened Hindu nationalist political leaders.

Anti-conversion laws have been a driving factor behind increased imprisonments of Christians, the watchdog reported last week, revealing that nearly 400 Christians have been jailed since the end of 2020 due to these laws. Attacks against Christians are also escalating, with even home gatherings being targeted.

Nearly a dozen states in India have enacted anti-conversion laws. Proponents of such laws say they are needed to crack down on Christians or Muslims, forcing or giving money or goods to Hindus to persuade them to convert.

These laws typically ban conversion through coercion, allurement, fraudulent practices, marriage or misrepresentation. Hindu nationalist activists and groups have often used the laws to file allegations of forced conversion with police against religious minorities. The burden of proof falls on those accused to prove that conversions were not done in force.

The United Christian Forum recorded 104 incidents of violence against Christians in Uttar Pradesh alone this year until August. Nationwide, this number reached 525. Christians constitute a minuscule 0.18 percent of the state’s 200 million-strong population.

Christians make up around 2.3% of India’s national population, as indicated by the U.S. State Department.

The UCF reported a significant upsurge in violent incidents against Christians since 2014. Their findings show a substantial increase in 2021 and 2022, making 2021 the “most violent year” in India for Christians.

This rise in violence includes vigilante mobs composed of religious extremists who target Christians. The UCF’s report attributes the increased persecution to impunity, resulting in these mobs threatening and assaulting people before turning them over to police on allegations of forced conversions.

India ranks as the 11th-worst country when it comes to Christian persecution, according to Open Doors’ 2023 World Watch List, attributing deteriorating religious freedom conditions in the country to the rise of the Hindutva ideology, which holds that only Hindus are true Indians.

“Increasing numbers of states are implementing anti-conversion laws, supposedly to stop Hindus being forcibly converted to other religions, but in reality, they are often used as an excuse to harass and intimidate Christians who are just doing things like distributing aid or having a private church meeting,” Open Doors states. “These laws do not seem to protect Christians from being coerced back into Hinduism.”
Sources:Christian Post

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ഇന്ത്യയിൽ സ്വവർഗ വിവാഹത്തിന് അംഗീകാരമില്ല: രാജ്യം കാത്തിരുന്ന ചരിത്രപരമായ വിധിയുമായി സുപ്രീം കോടതി

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National

New Anti-Conversion Law Takes Effect in Rajasthan

Published

12 hours ago

February 22, 2025

theendtimenews

India — As of this week, a newly enacted anti-conversion law requires people in India’s Rajasthan state to give two months’ notice to the government if they plan to change their religion voluntarily.

Further, the “converter,” or the person performing the conversion ceremony, must also give the government a month’s notice of his intention to perform the ceremony.

The Rajasthan Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Bill, 2025, has made the procedures for conversions exhaustive and lengthy to stop unlawful conversions. Failure to involve government authorities in voluntary religious conversions could lead to up to three years in jail and a minimum fine of 10,000 rupees ($115).

The new law states that a prescribed declaration form should be submitted to the District Magistrate (DM) or the relevant authority 60 days before the person wants to convert voluntarily.

If the converter violates the law, it could lead to up to five years imprisonment and a minimum fine of 25,000 rupees ($289).
An officer not below the rank of Additional DM will “get an inquiry conducted through police with regard to real intention, purpose, and cause of the proposed religious conversion.”

Then, within 60 days of conversion, the converted person must send a declaration in a prescribed form to the DM. A copy of this declaration must be displayed on the notice board of the DM’s office until the date of confirmation.

Finally, the convert must appear before the DM within 21 days of filing the declaration to establish their identity and confirm the declaration’s contents.

According to lawmakers, unlawful religious conversions through coercion, force, allurement, or fraud, with allurement including cash, material benefits, employment, free education, and even inter-religious marriages, are taking place. This law aims to curb these so-called malpractices.

The anti-conversion law states that the burden of proof lies on the person who has “caused” the conversion. This is a reversal of the principle of assumption of innocence, which normally applies to the accused person in a criminal case.

Rajasthan joins 11 other Indian states that have passed anti-conversion laws. These include Uttar Pradesh, Odisha, Arunachal Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Haryana, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Uttarakhand, Madhya Pradesh and Himachal Pradesh.

Various offenses under the law are cognizable and non-bailable, which could result in harassment of innocent individuals, says Citizens for Justice and Peace (CJP), which has long acted as a safeguarding organization for the human rights of Indian citizens.
Sources:persecution

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National

Chrysalis: Preparing for Marriage Workshop

Published

1 day ago

February 21, 2025

theendtimenews

Bangalore – All Peoples Church (APC) is excited to announce the Chrysalis: Preparing for Marriage Workshop, scheduled for February 22, 2025. This workshop is designed to help couples build a strong foundation for their future together.

The workshop will cover various aspects of marriage, including communication, conflict resolution, financial planning, and spiritual growth. Participants will have the opportunity to learn from experienced speakers and engage in interactive sessions that provide practical tools and insights for a successful marriage.
Sources:christiansworldnews

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National

എപിസി വനിതാ സമ്മേളനം 2025

Published

3 days ago

February 20, 2025

theendtimenews

ബാംഗ്ലൂർ, ഫെബ്രുവരി 2025 : ഓൾ പീപ്പിൾസ് ചർച്ച് (എപിസി) 2025 മാർച്ച് 29 ന് നടക്കാനിരിക്കുന്ന ഒരു വനിതാ സമ്മേളനം 2025 സംഘടിപ്പിക്കുന്നു. ഓരോ സ്ത്രീയുടെയും പോരാട്ടങ്ങൾ എന്നതാണ് ഈ വർഷത്തെ പ്രമേയം, ജീവിതത്തിന്റെ എല്ലാ തുറകളിൽ നിന്നുമുള്ള സ്ത്രീകളെ പ്രചോദിപ്പിക്കുക, ശാക്തീകരിക്കുക, ഉയർത്തുക എന്നിവയാണ് ഈ സമ്മേളനത്തിന്റെ ലക്ഷ്യം.

ജീവിതത്തിന്റെ എല്ലാ തുറകളിൽ നിന്നുമുള്ള സ്ത്രീകളെ പ്രചോദിപ്പിക്കുക, ശാക്തീകരിക്കുക, ഉയർത്തുക എന്നിവയാണ് ലക്ഷ്യം.

സഭയിൽ ഇന്ന് സ്ത്രീകൾ നേരിടുന്ന അതുല്യമായ വെല്ലുവിളികളെയും അവസരങ്ങളെയും അഭിസംബോധന ചെയ്യുന്നതിനായി രൂപകൽപ്പന ചെയ്‌തിരിക്കുന്ന സെമിനാറിൽ നിരവധി പ്രഭാഷകർ, ആരാധനാ സെഷനുകൾ, സംവേദനാത്മക വർക്ക്‌ഷോപ്പുകൾ എന്നിവ സമ്മേളനത്തിൽ ഉണ്ടായിരിക്കും.

സമാന ചിന്താഗതിക്കാരായ വ്യക്തികളുമായി ബന്ധപ്പെടാനും അവരുടെ അനുഭവങ്ങൾ പങ്കിടാനും അവരുടെ ആത്മീയ യാത്രയിൽ വളരാനും പങ്കെടുക്കുന്നവർക്ക് അവസരം ലഭിക്കും.

വ്യക്തിഗത വളർച്ച, ആത്മീയ വികസനം, പ്രായോഗിക ജീവിത നൈപുണ്യം എന്നിവയുൾപ്പെടെ വിവിധ വിഷയങ്ങളെക്കുറിച്ചുള്ള സെഷനുകൾ പങ്കെടുക്കുന്നവർക്ക് പ്രതീക്ഷിക്കാം. സമൂഹത്തിനുള്ളിൽ നെറ്റ്‌വർക്കിംഗിനും ശാശ്വത ബന്ധങ്ങൾ കെട്ടിപ്പടുക്കുന്നതിനുമുള്ള അവസരങ്ങളും സമ്മേളനം നൽകും.

കൂടുതൽ വിവരങ്ങൾക്കും രജിസ്റ്റർ ചെയ്യുന്നതിനും, ദയവായി എപിസി വനിതാ കോൺഫറൻസ് പേജ് സന്ദർശിക്കുക.

ക്രിസ്ത്യൻ സമൂഹത്തിലെ സ്ത്രീകളുടെ ശക്തിയും പ്രതിരോധശേഷിയും ആഘോഷിക്കുന്ന ഒരു പരിവർത്തന പരിപാടിയുടെ ഭാഗമാകാനുള്ള ഈ അവസരം നഷ്ടപ്പെടുത്തരുത്.
Sources:christiansworldnews

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All Peoples Church (APC) is excited to announce the upcoming Women’s Conference 2025, scheduled to take place on March 29th, 2025. This year’s theme, “Every Woman’s Battles,” aims to inspire, empower, and uplift women from all walks of life.

The conference will feature a series of dynamic speakers, worship sessions, and interactive workshops designed to address the unique challenges and opportunities faced by women today. Participants will have the chance to connect with like-minded individuals, share their experiences, and grow in their spiritual journey.

Attendees can look forward to sessions on various topics, including personal growth, spiritual development, and practical life skills. The conference will also provide opportunities for networking and building lasting relationships within the community.

For more details and to register, please visit the APC Women’s Conference page.

Don’t miss this opportunity to be part of a transformative event that celebrates the strength and resilience of women in the Christian community.

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