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'''Anti-conversion legislation in India''' refers to the laws enacted by several Indian states which prohibit conversions from one religion to another. Christianity is the third largest religion in India with Hinduism being the largest and [[Islam]] being the second largest religion.<ref name="census">[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_data_finder/C_Series/Population_by_religious_communities.htm Population by religious communities]</ref> More than 2% of the population in the country are Christians.<ref name=TCHUI>[http://www.csmonitor.com/1999/0114/p6s1.html Torched churches heat up India] ''Chritian Science Monitor''</ref> Christianity is the majority religion in the states of [[Nagaland]], [[Mizoram]] and [[Meghalaya]] where Christians constitute 90.02%, 87% and 70.3% of the states' populations respectively.

'''Anti-conversion legislation in India''' refers to the laws enacted by several Indian states which prohibit conversions from one religion to another. Christianity is the third largest religion in India with Hinduism being the largest and [[Islam]] being the second largest religion.<ref name="census">[http://www.censusindia.gov.in/Census_Data_2001/Census_data_finder/C_Series/Population_by_religious_communities.htm Population by religious communities]</ref> More than 2% of the population in the country are Christians.<ref name=TCHUI>[http://www.csmonitor.com/1999/0114/p6s1.html Torched churches heat up India] ''Chritian Science Monitor''</ref> Christianity is the majority religion in the states of [[Nagaland]], [[Mizoram]] and [[Meghalaya]] where Christians constitute 90.02%, 87% and 70.3% of the states' populations respectively.

Hindus claim Christian missionaries forcefully convert Hindus to Christianity.<ref name=IACLTEFS>[http://www.worthynews.com/christian/india-anti-conversion-law-takes-effect-in-fifth-state/ India: 'Anti-Conversion' Law Takes Effect in Fifth State] ''Worthynews.com''</ref> This belief is described by some as a false propaganda campaign orchestrated by Hindu nationalist organizations in India.<ref name=TCHUI/> The stated purpose of the anti-conversion laws are to prohibit religious conversions allegedly made by "force", "fraud" or "allurement". This view is accepted by most Christians and rights groups. Fundamentalist Christians stated that the laws are enacted actually for the purpose of obstructing conversion generally<ref name=IACLTEFS/> and to hold onto a Hindu cultural traditions.<ref name=TCHUI/> There is also allegation by fundamentalist Christian groups (though not verified by any independent source) that Hindu nationalists harass Christian workers by imprisoning them with false accusations.<ref name=IACLTEFS/> They also claim that some Hindu extremist organizations in the country want India to become a theocratic Hindu state - which is a view that the vast majority of the Indian population rejects and India is a thriving secular democracy.<ref name=TCHUI/> The Orthodox Christion groups claim that anti-conversion laws favour Hinduism over other religions.<ref>[http://www.hrdc.net/sahrdc/hrfeatures/HRF157.htm Anti-conversion laws in India]</ref>

Hindus claim Christian missionaries forcefully convert Hindus to Christianity.<ref name=IACLTEFS>[http://www.worthynews.com/christian/india-anti-conversion-law-takes-effect-in-fifth-state/ India: 'Anti-Conversion' Law Takes Effect in Fifth State] ''Worthynews.com''</ref> This belief is described by some as a false propaganda campaign orchestrated by Hindu nationalist organizations in India.<ref name=TCHUI/> The stated purpose of the anti-conversion laws are to prohibit religious conversions allegedly made by "force", "fraud" or "allurement". This view is accepted by most Christians and rights groups. Fundamentalist Christians stated that the laws are enacted actually for the purpose of obstructing conversion generally<ref name=IACLTEFS/> and to hold onto a Hindu cultural traditions.<ref name=TCHUI/> There is also allegation by fundamentalist Christian groups (though not verified by any independent source) that Hindu nationalists harass Christian workers by imprisoning them with false accusations.<ref name=IACLTEFS/> They also claim that some Hindu extremist organizations in the country want India to become a theocratic Hindu state - a curious claim given that India is a thriving secular democracy with special protections for minorities enshrined into laws - The prime minister of India is a Sikh, The current president of India is a so called "lower caste" woman, the Vice-president of India s a Muslim, the the last President of India was also a Muslim. In addition, the most powerful political figure in india, Sonia Gandhi, is not only a Christioan, but is actually a child of two native white Italian parents.<ref name=TCHUI/> The Orthodox Christian groups also claim that anti-conversion laws favour Hinduism over other religions - even though the Hindu population of India is a continually declining percentage of the total population of India since India's independence in 1947.<ref>[http://www.hrdc.net/sahrdc/hrfeatures/HRF157.htm Anti-conversion laws in India]</ref>

The U.S. Congressional Human Rights Caucus briefing on anti-conversion laws in India by Angela C. Wu of the [[Washington, D.C.]]-based The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty stated:<ref>[http://www.becketfund.org/files/581fd.pdf?PHPSESSID=30a72aefbf3d94d6a8ece1c5b4869d00 THE CONGRESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CAUCUS]</ref>

The U.S. Congressional Human Rights Caucus briefing on anti-conversion laws in India by Angela C. Wu of the [[Washington, D.C.]]-based The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty stated:<ref>[http://www.becketfund.org/files/581fd.pdf?PHPSESSID=30a72aefbf3d94d6a8ece1c5b4869d00 THE CONGRESSIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS CAUCUS]</ref>