by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Washington D.C. Bureau Chief
(Worthy News) – A new anti-conversion law in India’s Chhattisgarh state is drawing sharp criticism from Christian leaders and human rights advocates, who warn it could intensify persecution against religious minorities.
Governor Ramen Deka signed the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill 2026 into law on April 7, replacing a 1968 statute that critics say was already widely misused against Christians.
The legislation criminalizes religious conversions carried out through force, fraud, inducement, or marriage, including those conducted via digital platforms. However, the law explicitly exempts conversions to Hinduism and does not classify “reconversion” to ancestral Hindu faith as a conversion.
Penalties under the new law are among the harshest in India. Standard violations carry prison terms of seven to 10 years, while cases involving minors, women, or members of disadvantaged communities can result in 10 to 20 years behind bars. “Mass conversions”—defined as two or more individuals—can bring sentences ranging from 10 years to life imprisonment.
Christian organizations, including the Progressive Christian Alliance and the Evangelical Fellowship of India, condemned the law as discriminatory. Leaders argue it effectively criminalizes legitimate expressions of Christian faith while empowering authorities and vigilante groups.
The law also imposes strict requirements on those involved in conversions, including mandatory registration with authorities and public disclosure of personal details—provisions critics say expose individuals to harassment and intimidation.
The bill was passed by the state assembly on March 19 amid a boycott by opposition lawmakers. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai defended the legislation, saying it is necessary to protect vulnerable communities from coercion and preserve cultural identity.
The move comes as India’s Supreme Court of India reviews similar anti-conversion laws from multiple states. Meanwhile, the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has warned of a continued decline in religious freedom in the country, citing the expansion of such laws.
Chhattisgarh, where Christians make up less than 2 percent of the population, has already seen rising anti-Christian incidents in recent years. Church leaders fear the new legislation will embolden further persecution under legal cover.
Copyright 1999-2026 Worthy News. This article was originally published on Worthy News and was reproduced with permission.
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