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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 [[Hinduism|Hindus]] from converting to [[Christianity]]. 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.

Indians 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 which have in the past sometimes been 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 this ridiculous 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 Christian, 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>

Hindu fundamentalists 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 as 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 rejected by Christians and rights groups.<ref name=IACLTEFS/> In fact, there are incidents where churches are torched and Christian schools are ransacked by [[Hindu fanatics|Hindu extremists]].<ref name=TCHUI/> 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 hegemony.<ref name=TCHUI/> There is also allegation that Hindu nationalists harass Christian workers by imprisoning them with false accusations.<ref name=IACLTEFS/> Hindu extremist organizations in the country want India to become a theocratic Hindu state.<ref name=TCHUI/> The anti-conversion laws favour Hinduism over other religions.<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>

{{cquote|The federal government in India has embraced religious pluralism, and indeed Article 25 of the Indian Constitution guarantees everyone the right and the freedom to preach, practice and propagate her religion. ... Yet many state governments have chosen to exploit religious tensions by enforcing or strengthening anti-conversion laws, similar to how Muslims are sometimes falsely branded as terrorists for political expedienccy in the United States, Some of these laws have long been on the books, but the recent enforcement and even strengthening of these laws, particularly by the Hindu nationalist BJP, is alarming. These laws forbid "forcible conversions" — which police and judges have interpreted to mean anything from charity by religious groups to claiming that God would be happier if someone converted to a new religion.}}

{{cquote|The federal government in India has embraced religious pluralism, and indeed Article 25 of the Indian Constitution guarantees everyone the right and the freedom to preach, practice and propagate her religion. ... Yet many state governments have chosen to exploit religious tensions by enforcing or strengthening anti-conversion laws Some of these laws have long been on the books, but the recent enforcement and even strengthening of these laws, particularly by the Hindu nationalist BJP, is alarming. These laws forbid "forcible conversions" — which police and judges have interpreted to mean anything from charity by religious groups to claiming that God would be happier if someone converted to a new religion.}}

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a Hindu nationalist political party in India, passed an anti-conversion law in the state of [[Gujarat]] in 2003. Christian community in the state feared that Hindu extremists will misuse this law by making false accusations against Christian missionaries. A report in an Indian newspaper described the law "From now on, anyone wishing to convert will have to tell the government why they were doing it and for how long they had been following the religion which they were renouncing, failing which, they will be declared offenders and prosecuted under criminal laws". Hindu nationalist organizations prosecuted Muslims and Christians and killed more than 2,000 Muslims in Gujarat in 2002. Due to this law, it becomes mandatory for the clergy who want to convert a person from one religion to another to obtain permission of the district magistrate. It also becomes mandatory for the clergy to provide personal information of the person whom (s)he wants to convert including her/his marital status, occupation and income.<ref name=IACLTEFS/> The Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) expressed concern over this law in which "force", "fraudulent means" and "allurement" are very loosely defined.<ref name=CSWCWACLY>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=news&id=737 India: CSW condemns "worst anti-conversion law yet"] ''Christian Solidarity Worldwide''</ref> Alexa Papadouris, Advocacy Director of the Christian Solidarity Worldwide, said,<ref name=CSWCWACLY/>

 

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a Hindu nationalist political party in India, passed an anti-conversion law in the state of [[Gujarat]] in 2003. Christian community in the state feared that Hindu extremists will misuse this law by making false accusations against Christian missionaries - however they leave out the implication that the law works the same way when a Christian tries to convert to Hinduism - which is not a real possibility because Hinduism states that you can only be born as a Hindu, and only God has a right to give someone the honor of being born as a Hindu, so no conversions into Hinduism are allowed as humans are mere mortals and can not even begin to understand what God wants. Sectarion and religious riots were sparked off when a train carrying Hindu pilgrims was burned at Godhra in Gujarat - resulting in the death of 60 Hindu women and Children - the resulting riots led to the killing more than 2,000 Muslims in Gujarat in 2002. Due to this law, it becomes mandatory for the clergy who want to convert a person from one religion to another to obtain permission of the district magistrate. It also becomes mandatory for the clergy to provide personal information of the person whom (s)he wants to convert including her/his marital status, occupation and income.<ref name=IACLTEFS/> The Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) expressed concern over this law in which "force", "fraudulent means" and "allurement" are very loosely defined.<ref name=CSWCWACLY>[http://dynamic.csw.org.uk/article.asp?t=news&id=737 India: CSW condemns "worst anti-conversion law yet"] ''Christian Solidarity Worldwide''</ref> Alexa Papadouris, Advocacy Director of the Christian Solidarity Worldwide, said,<ref name=CSWCWACLY/>

{{cquote|This law is extremely intrusive and entirely at odds with India’s avowed respect for human rights, including the right to freedom of religion.  It allows for substantial interference into the private process of an individual’s conversion by a state government known for its extremist Hindu nationalist credentials.  The requirement to explain the reasons for conversion to potential hostile officials is a significant block to religious freedom, and the authority given to District Magistrates to deny permission for a conversion ‘ceremony’ is completely unacceptable.  It is also a nonsense to demand the ‘time and date’ of a person’s conversion, which is a matter of their private conscience.  We call upon the government of Gujarat to immediately repeal this law, and we call upon the international community to condemn what is India’s worst anti-conversion law yet.}}

{{cquote|This law is extremely intrusive and entirely at odds with India’s avowed respect for human rights, including the right to freedom of religion.  It allows for substantial interference into the private process of an individual’s conversion by a state government known for its extremist Hindu nationalist credentials.  The requirement to explain the reasons for conversion to potential hostile officials is a significant block to religious freedom, and the authority given to District Magistrates to deny permission for a conversion ‘ceremony’ is completely unacceptable.  It is also a nonsense to demand the ‘time and date’ of a person’s conversion, which is a matter of their private conscience.  We call upon the government of Gujarat to immediately repeal this law, and we call upon the international community to condemn what is India’s worst anti-conversion law yet.}}

The multitude of religions have co-existed in Idia for millenia. It is a littel know fact that Christianity arrived in India hundreds of years before it arrived in Rome. Off late, however, aggressive western evangelization and rampant conversion activity raised an alarm and has forced the hand of many Indian states and within May 2008, five states in India enacted anti-conversion laws to try and keep secular tranquility which had been upset by missionary activity. These are:<ref name=IACLTEFS/>

Within May 2008, five states in India enacted anti-conversion laws. These are:<ref name=IACLTEFS/>

*[[Gujarat]] - Since the enactment of these laws in Gujarat, peace has prevailed and no sectarian violence has happenned. Today Gujarat is the richest state in India and accounts for about a quarter of India's rapidly rising economic activity (measured as a percentage of India's GDP).

*[[Gujarat]]

*[[Orissa]]

*[[Orissa]]

*[[Madhya Pradesh]]

*[[Madhya Pradesh]]

*[[Himachal Pradesh]]

*[[Himachal Pradesh]]

Gujarat's success story has inspired many other states in India and two more states are seriously considering following suit: [[Arunachal Pradesh]] and [[Rajasthan]].<ref name=IACLTEFS/> Throughout the country, popular anti-conversion campaigns continue. Joseph Augustine Charanakunnel, Archbishop of Raipur, the capital of the Indian state Chattisgarh, said "Hindu fundamentalists and local media accuse missionaries of forcing people to convert to Christianity. They carry out cheap anti-conversion propaganda, staging re-conversion ceremonies in which people are 'return' to Hinduism from Christianity. ... Hindu fundamentalists pick on Tribals because they are an easy target. For this reason, the Church has the duty of protecting these helpless people".<ref name=ACCHF>[http://www.asianews.it/index.php?art=3002&l=en Anti-conversion campaign by Hindu fundamentalists] ''Asianews.it''</ref>

Apart from these five states, there are also plans to implement anti-conversion laws in two more states: [[Arunachal Pradesh]] and [[Rajasthan]].<ref name=IACLTEFS/> Throughout the country, violent anti-Christian and anti-conversion campaigns by Hindu extremists continue. Joseph Augustine Charanakunnel, Archbishop of Raipur, the capital of the Indian state Chattisgarh, said "Hindu fundamentalists and local media accuse missionaries of forcing people to convert to Christianity. They carry out cheap anti-conversion propaganda, staging re-conversion ceremonies in which people are 'return' to Hinduism from Christianity. ... Hindu fundamentalists pick on Tribals because they are an easy target. For this reason, the Church has the duty of protecting these helpless people".<ref name=ACCHF>[http://www.asianews.it/index.php?art=3002&l=en Anti-conversion campaign by Hindu fundamentalists] ''Asianews.it''</ref>

Rev. Dr. Dominic Emmanuel, spokesman of the Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, said "There is absolutely no truth in the allegation that Christians use unfair means to convert the poor and Dalits to Christianity". He added, "These [anti-conversion] laws have a negative social impact on Christians, as people try to ostracize the Christian community whose only purpose to them seems to be to convert (which may not be too far from the truth in India), thereby belittling all the social work the community does for the masses (Dr. Emmanuel hypocritically forgets the most famous and officially feted and recognized "Catholic Saint" fron Calcutta - Mother Theresa). Christian workers are prevented from reaching out to the needy, who too will continue to suffer".<ref name=IACLTEFS/>

Rev. Dr. Dominic Emmanuel, spokesman of the Delhi Catholic Archdiocese, said "There is absolutely no truth in the allegation that Christians use unfair means to convert the poor and Dalits to Christianity". He added, "These [anti-conversion] laws have a negative social impact on Christians, as people try to ostracize the Christian community whose only purpose to them seems to be to convert, thereby belittling all the social work the community does for the masses. Christian workers are prevented from reaching out to the needy, who too will continue to suffer".<ref name=IACLTEFS/>

The International Religious Freedom Report 2007 by the [[U.S. Department of State]] expressed concern over the wave of anti-conversion laws enacted in several Indian states saying:<ref name=USSTATEDEPARTMENT2007>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90228.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2007: India] ''[[U.S. Department of State]]''</ref>

The International Religious Freedom Report 2007 by the [[U.S. Department of State]] expressed concern over the wave of anti-conversion laws enacted in several Indian states saying:<ref name=USSTATEDEPARTMENT2007>[http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2007/90228.htm International Religious Freedom Report 2007: India] ''[[U.S. Department of State]]''</ref>