Dangerous to be a Christian

This summer several Indian states have passed what have been called "anti-conversion" laws. The norm introduced in the state of Madhya Pradesh, for example, obliges individuals who intend to convert to inform authorities one month in advance, or face a fine of 1,000 rupees ($21) or a year's imprisonment.

The law in Madhya Pradesh is similar to others passed by state governments elsewhere, under pressure from Hindu nationalists who complain that Christian missionaries are using inducements to spur religious conversions, and thus luring people away from the Hindu faith which, they say, is an essential part of the national identity. In all the five states that have adopted such laws, the government is controlled by the BJP, a Hindu nationalist party.

Scores of Christian, Hindu, Muslim and other religious leaders have joined along with human-rights activists in an appeal to India's President A.P.J. Kalam to scrap the anti-conversion legislation being adopted in several states.

Sonia Gandhi, the leader of India's Congress party, has condemned the anti-conversion laws enacted in several Indian states, the AsiaNews service reports.

The president of the Indian bishops' conference, Bishop Oswald Gracias, strongly criticised the latest anti-conversion law. In an interview with AsiaNews, he said the new legislation in the Chattisgarh state amounts to "curtailing the freedom of thought and the faith of each citizen." He added that the new law should be recognized as "unconstitutional and against religious freedom enshrined in the Constitution."

Christian leaders fear that the new Bill will embolden the communal forces who have been constantly attacking minority Christians accusing the Christian missionaries in the state of converting forcibly members of different tribes.

"Christians are being implicated in false cases. It is facing increasing attacks - over two dozen this year alone - by Hindu outfits mostly on false charges of converting members of tribes to Christianity," president of Christian Association Indira Iyengar said.

India is renowned for its respect of human rights including religious freedom. It seems that the BJP, which is now in government, is abandoning this rich tradition.