Another Indian Province Enacts an "Anti-Conversion Law"

On February 20th, 2007, Governor Vishnu Sadashiv Kokje gave his assent to the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill, first proposed in 2006. This "Freedom of Religion" Bill was primarily the work of Hindu extremists in the country, who are trying to put a stop to the spread of Christianity in that country. Six other provinces in India have already passed similar bills.

Under the legislation, it is not technically a crime to be a Christian. However, it is a crime to convert another person to Christianity through "force" or "allurement".
Zealous Hindus are known to falsely accuse Christians of this illegal activity and use it as an excuse to attack Christians. When Hindus are accused of attacking Christians, they justify it by saying that the person was "forcibly converting" others, thus avoiding prosecution and bringing further legal trouble to the Christian.

Hindu nationalists are working to bring about a strictly Hindu State. In this State, other religions would be allowed to exist, but they would be decidedly subordinate in class and rank to the majority group: Hindus. Anti-conversion laws are fundamental to bringing about this ideal. Hindu extremists push the thought that Christianity is a Western tool being used to infiltrate and ultimately take over their country. They even go so far as to accuse Western Missionaries of using bribes and manipulation to convert poor and illiterate Indians.

Both political analysts, as well as Christians living in the country assert that persecution rises with every anti-conversion law that passes. As recently as February 8th, a Christian Evangelist was arrested for converting people to Christianity and, according to worthynews.com, he is being held in custody without formal charges. Several similar instances are on record of people being intimidated, threatened, forced out of cities and villages, beaten and imprisoned because of their Christian faith. Some places have become so hostile to Christianity that missionaries are not able to go there without risking their lives.

Here are a few examples of the specifics of this law: