Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh – A significant wave of discontent has swept through the northeastern Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh, as over 50,000 Christians took to the streets to voice their strong opposition to the government's initiative to revive a long-dormant anti-conversion law. The Christian community fears that the reactivation of this 40-year-old legislation will lead to increased persecution and victimization.
Tara Miri, president of the local Christian Forum, emphasized the unified stance of the community, stating, "There are 46 Christian denominations in the state, and members of all of them joined the protest because we believe that the state government should not implement the law." Miri further warned that the state's 1978 Freedom of Religion Act "restricts" their religious rights.
The anti-conversion law was initially enacted to safeguard the traditional religious practices of indigenous communities from external influences. However, it has remained largely unenforced for the past 45 years.
The law specifically prohibits religious conversion "by the use of force, inducement or fraudulent means" and stipulates penalties of up to two years of imprisonment or a fine of up to 10,000 rupees (approximately 105 euros).
The recent surge in concern stems from a September 30th ruling by a permanent bench of the Gauhati High Court in Itanagar, which mandated that the state government finalize the law's regulations within six months. This order came in response to a petition filed by a citizen citing the government's failure to implement the legislation.
The large scale protest indicates the serious concern the christian population of Arunachal Pradesh has concerning their religious freedom.
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