#fairplanet

According to a recent report by the United Christian Forum (UCF) - an interdenominational organisation fighting for the rights of the Christians in India - by the end of July, a staggering 302 incidents of violence targeting the Christian community in India were recorded, a drastic increase from the 186 incidents reported in the same period last year. Uttar Pradesh, currently ruled by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), tops the list with 84 reported incidents of violence targeting Christians. Commenting on the rise in the number of attacks on Christians in India, UCF National President Michael Williams stated: "This data flies in the face of statements by government functionaries and leaders of the ruling parties at the centre and in the states that there is no persecution and that there are only a few stray incidents by fringe elements."

India has had an anti-conversion law since 1967, but many states either do not enforce it or haven’t  enacted it yet. Certain states, however, including Uttar Pradesh and Karnataka, are tightening such laws. In 2020, the Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance was passed to replace the 1967 law, and punish people convicted of forceful conversion with up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to 50,000 rupees (USD $700). In such states, a person who wants to change their religion after getting married must apply to the local government, and it is up to the converted to provide evidence indicating they are not a victim of compulsory conversion.