National
Indian pastor, wife granted bail in alleged conversion case
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The top court in northern Indian Uttar Pradesh state has granted bail to a Protestant pastor and his wife after they spent close to 20 months in jail over an alleged case of religious conversion.
The Allahabad High Court granted Pastor Ashok Yadav and Foola Devi bail on Dec. 5. The couple has been in jail since April 2023, when police arrested them from the Nichlaul area of Mahrajganj district.
“We got the copy of the order on Dec. 13 and will try to get them released in a day or two after complying with bail conditions,” said a Church official assisting them.
While granting bail to the Christian couple, Justice Ashutosh Srivastava directed them not to tamper with evidence and cooperate with the investigation and the trial.
The couple, in their submissions, told the court that they were trapped in a false conversion case after inviting them to a house.
After they reached there, the complainant and another person accused them of asking to convert to Christianity. They even kept a copy of the Bible and planted other evidence against them.
The complainant and other witnesses in the case are allegedly members of Bajrang Dal, a hardline Hindu organization.
Some 70 Christians, including pastors, continue to be in different prisons in Uttar Pradesh, the most populous state in India, for alleged violation of the state’s stringent anti-conversion law.
“They [Yadav and his wife] are lucky that they got bail as they were charged under the old anti-conversion law,” said the Church official who did not want to be named, fearing retribution.
Uttar Pradesh’s pro-Hindu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government under its Chief Minister Yogi Adiyanath has further amended the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act in 2021, making it harsher.
The amendments in July this year have brought in more stringent provisions including life imprisonment. The law made even getting bail difficult in a conversion case, Christian leaders said.
“In December so far, 19 people have been arrested and jailed in different parts of the state for alleged violation of the new draconian law,” said a Protestant pastor.
“At least 40 bail applications of our people are pending before the high court and rest in lower courts,” he added.
Uttar Pradesh tops among Indian states in violence against Christians, with 156 incidents recorded till September this year.
Christians make up a mere 0.18 percent of the state’s more than 200 million population, mostly Hindus.
Sources:ucanews
National
New Anti-Conversion Law Takes Effect in Rajasthan
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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
National
Chrysalis: Preparing for Marriage Workshop
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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
National
എപിസി വനിതാ സമ്മേളനം 2025
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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
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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