Tag: impunity

India’s ‘freedom of religion’ laws have nothing to do with preventing forced conversions

Posted on by cswpress in Asia, India

On 20 August India’s Uttarakhand state government introduced significant amendments to its controversial anti-conversion law. Building on the original 2018 legislation and an initial round of amendments made in 2022, the Freedom of Religion and Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion (Amendment) Bill, 2025, imposes harsher punishments on a range of offences.

Individuals convicted of using allurement, misrepresentation or fraud to induce conversion now face anywhere from three to ten years in prison and a minimum fine of 50,000 rupees (approximately GBP £420). If the case involves a minor, a woman, a person with a disability, or a member of a Scheduled Caste or Scheduled Tribe, these penalties are increased to five to 14 years in prison and a fine of at least 100,000 rupees (GBP £840).

‘Mass conversions’ and those involving foreign funding are punishable with seven to 14 years imprisonment and a minimum fine of 100,000 rupees, while punishments for cases involving threats, assault, human trafficking, or marriage as a pretext for conversion can extend to 20 years or life imprisonment, along with fines covering the victim’s medical and rehabilitation costs.

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Where justice fails: How cultures of impunity lead to forced displacement in India and Mexico

Posted on by cswpress in Asia, India, Latin America, Mexico

On 11 June the families and loved ones of Neelkant and Pushpa Verma gathered for what should have been a day of celebration. The young Christian couple were due to marry in Raipur in India’s Chhattisgarh State, no doubt filled with excitement at what should have been one of the happiest days of their lives, and all the joy to follow in the years to come. 

But this excitement was cut short when three villagers in in their early twenties stormed the wedding venue, cutting off the electricity supply and declaring that Christians were not allowed to hold celebrations in the village. When Neelkant’s family attempted to contact the electricity board, over 30 villagers gathered outside of the venue, vandalising guests’ vehicles and setting the building on fire.  

The mob proceeded to hurl abuse at the women and tear some of their sarees. When the women’s children tried to defend their mothers, they were pelted with stones and forced to seek refuge in a nearby house. Once the victims were inside, they called the police who arrived quickly and escorted them to safety, managing to disperse the attackers.  

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Donde la justicia falla: Cómo las culturas de impunidad conducen al desplazamiento forzado en India y México

Posted on by cswpress in Asia ES, español, India ES, Latin America ES, Mexico ES

El 11 de junio, las familias y seres queridos de Neelkant y Pushpa Verma se reunieron para lo que debería haber sido un día de celebración. La joven pareja cristiana debía casarse en Raipur, en el estado indio de Chhattisgarh, sin duda todos estaban llenos de emoción por lo que debería haber sido uno de los días más felices de sus vidas y por toda la alegría que les esperaba en los años venideros. 

Pero esta emoción se vio truncada cuando tres mienbros de su comunidad de alrededor de veintite años de edad irrumpieron en el lugar de la boda, cortando el suministro eléctrico y declarando que los cristianos no podían celebrar bodas en el pueblo. Cuando la familia de Neelkant intentó contactar con la compañía eléctrica, más de 30 residentes se congregaron frente al lugar, destrozando los vehículos de los invitados e incendiando el edificio. 

La turba comenzó a insultar a las mujeres y a rasgar algunos de sus saris [prenda tradicional india]. Cuando los hijos de las mujeres intentaron defender a sus madres, fueron apedreados y obligados a refugiarse en una casa cercana. Una vez dentro, llamaron a la policía, que llegó rápidamente y los escoltó a un lugar seguro, logrando dispersar a los atacantes. 

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Daffodils in front of the UK Houses of Parliament

Combatting impunity is essential for the realisation of the right to freedom of religion or belief 

Posted on by cswpress in China, India, International Arenas, Nigeria, UK Government

Violations of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) take many forms: harassment, discrimination, threats, imprisonment or even death on account of one’s religion or belief. The impunity that generally surrounds these violations undercuts the rule of law, denies justice to victims, and perpetuates an environment conducive to further violations. The issue is multifaceted and nuanced, with socio-political, legal, and psychological dimensions.

Socio-political implications

When state or non-state actors perpetrate FoRB violations without facing repercussions, it critically erodes public trust in the institutions responsible for upholding the rule of law. This erosion of trust threatens social cohesion and contributes to societal fragmentation.

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Attacked, harassed and ostracised: Christians in India continue to suffer as the country slides further still into ethno-religious nationalism

Posted on by cswpress in Asia, India

Last week, the Religious Liberty Commission of the Evangelical Fellowship of India (EFI) released its annual report on Hate and Targeted Violence against Christians in India in 2021. It documented 505 individual incidents of violence across the country in 2021, including three murders, as well as other forms of harassment against Christians including disruption to worship services, social boycott and ostracisation, and forced conversion to Hinduism.

The report states: “No denomination – whether organized or a lonely independent worshipping family or neighborhood group – none has been spared targeted violence and intense, chilling hate, the worst seen since the general election campaign of 2014. The year 2021 saw calls for genocide and threats of mass violence made from public platforms, and important political and religious figures on the stage.”

Reverend Vijayesh Lal, General Secretary of the EFI, spoke to CSW about various issues facing Christians in the country today:

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