Indian Christians fear persecution from new anti-conversion law
International
Post Date:
August 28, 2026
Indian Christians fear persecution from new anti-conversion law
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People pray at a Catholic church in Mumbai, India, April 21, 2025. Associated Press / Photo by Rafiq Maqbool
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A new law took effect in India’s second most populous state on Friday, requiring anyone intending to change his or her religion to inform a local magistrate 60 days in advance. The west-central state of Maharashtra, which includes major city Mumbai, passed the law over the summer. The initiative was driven by members of the ruling Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. The law punishes people who force others to convert, or offer them gifts or other inducements to do so, with seven to 10 years in prison, according to Indian newspaper The Hindu.
Under the new law, complaints from a person’s relatives can trigger a police investigation into the circumstances of their conversion. Authorities have the ability to declare conversions illegal and void, according to the Catholic Archdiocese of Bombay. The law also allows police to investigate the possibility of forced or induced conversions on their own, without any complaints of such behavior. The archdiocese said it was against all forced conversions, but similar laws in 12 other Indian states had already been interpreted to criminalize ordinary Christian religious, educational, and charity work.
Around 4,000 churches in the greater Mumbai area have started requiring attendees to sign consent forms explaining that they are not being forced to convert to Christianity, according to The Straits Times. Some churches have also tightened security measures, fearing attacks from vigilante groups.
At least one Christian pastor has already been charged with attempting to illegally convert Hindus to Christianity under the new law’s provisions, according to International Christian Concern. The pastor, Pankaj Devnoor of the Anglican Episcopal Church International, was attending a church anniversary celebration when police stopped him. The officers used the law to justify the charges before it actually took effect, and they let him go once they realized their mistake. However, they are attempting to press other charges against him, according to International Christian Concern.
Dig deeper: Read Barton J. Gingerich’s reflections for WORLD Opinions on the recent murders of three Christian pastors in India.
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Elizabeth is a breaking news reporter at WORLD. She is a graduate of World Journalism Institute and Patrick Henry College. She resides in northern Virginia with her husband.
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