Two Indian Evangelists Beaten and Charged With Carrying Out Unlawful Conversion

Two Christian evangelists in central India have been charged with carrying out allegedly unlawful religious conversions after they were beaten by extremists.

Both are now in hiding for their own safety.

“Rahul” and “Sachin” were attending a time of prayer when a mob of around 40 extremists attacked them, leaving both injured. Rahul was hospitalized for three days.

Around a month after the incident, the pair learned that a report had been made against them at a local police station.

Both were charged under their state’s Freedom of Religion legislation (commonly known an anti-conversion law), which regulates religious conversions and criminalizes those believed to be obtained through force, fraud, or allurement.

Extremists often wrongly believe that such laws criminalize all conversions from Hinduism, or even that they outlaw any form of Christian evangelism or worship.

The context for religious minorities in India is complex; some states are pursuing an aggressive anti-Christian agenda, while others promote tolerance and coexistence.

This article was originally published on https://www.barnabasaid.org/us/news/two-indian-evangelists-beaten-and-charged-with-carrying-out-unlawful-con/