National

Pastor and Friend Arrested for Praying at Home, Accused of ‘Forced Conversion’

Published

1 year ago

January 6, 2024

A Christian pastor and one of his guests were arrested and detained by local police in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh for the crime of praying in the pastor’s own home on New Year’s Eve.

The London-based Christian Today reports Pastor Raj Kishore and some of his friends had gathered at Kishore’s house located in Sonbarasa village on Dec. 31, when Kothibari police arrived at his residence around 11:00 p.m. The police detained Kishore and Raj Kumar, one of his friends, after a neighbor filed a complaint.

The police alleged Kishore was conducting a forced conversion in his home.

“The SHO told me that he booked Kishore and Kumar under the Code Of Criminal Procedure (CrPc) 151 (‘Arrest to prevent the commission of cognizable offenses’), 107 (‘breach of peace or disturb public tranquility’), 116 (‘provides for the power of the Magistrate to take immediate measures for the execution of bond..’),” Pyare Lal, a Christian leader from Uttar Pradesh, told Christian Today.

The outlet reported the two men appeared before the Sub-Divisional Magistrate on New Year’s Day and were released. However, the case against them continues.

Kishore’s wife Bhagwanti denied the allegation that any kind of conversion took place in her house.

Speaking through an unidentified source, who relayed her story about the incident to Christian Today, Bhagwanti said she, her husband, and some acquaintances were sitting and praying peacefully in their house when the police at the “false complaint of someone” detained her husband.

She told the outlet her husband and his friend were detained due to the animosity of one of their neighbors.

According to Bhagwanti, while her family was worshipping and praying in their home, five to six policemen entered the dwelling disrupting their prayer time. The police officers pulled out their phones and began videoing the family’s worship together. When Kishore objected to their conduct, all of the officers cursed them and left, according to Christian Today.

However, the police officers soon returned to the house to arrest Kishore and Kumar and took them to the police station.

Through the source, Bhagwanti told Christian Today she and her husband and their friends have the right to worship whom they want to and read religious scriptures of whatever religion they want to, according to the fundamental right to religious freedom given in Article 25 of the Indian Constitution.
Sources:faithwire

http://theendtimeradio.com

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Related Topics:Arrest Code Of Criminal Procedure Featured Indian Constitution.

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Sources:gospelmirror

http://theendtimeradio.com

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National

New Anti-Conversion Law Takes Effect in Rajasthan

Published

1 day 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

2 days 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

http://theendtimeradio.com