Release International reports: An anti-conversion law considered to be one of the toughest yet has just been passed in the Indian state of Chhattisgarh. The new regulations are so sweeping that even the smallest Christian gathering will now live under the shadow of suspicion, Christians in India claim. The Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Bill 2026 replaces a 1968 statute that Christian leaders say had already been weaponised against their communities. The new legislation makes it a non-bailable offence to convert anyone through force, fraud, allurement, undue influence, misrepresentation or marriage, including through digital platforms and social media. Joseph D’Souza, head of the All India Christian Council, said, ‘The state claims all this is merely to prevent forced or fraudulent conversions, but the vague wording and the reversed burden of proof speak volumes about its real intent.
Joseph D’Souza, head of the All India Christian Council, said, ‘The state claims all this is merely to prevent forced or fraudulent conversions, but the vague wording and the reversed burden of proof speak volumes about its real intent.
‘The new batch of anti-conversion laws sweeping across BJP-ruled states are designed with surgical precision to prevent Christians from even praying for the healing of those who are sick.
‘India’s attack on religious freedom has now reached a point where even the simple practice of the Christian faith is becoming nearly impossible. A public prayer meeting can be branded an illegal activity. Gifting a Bible can be treated as evidence of conversion. Prayer for the sick can bring criminal charges if someone later embraces the faith.’
The law requires anyone seeking to convert to submit an application before an authorised officer. The authority will then publish the details of a proposed conversion on an official website and display notices. The notice must carry the applicant’s name, current religion and proposed religion.
Notably, the law specifically exempts incidents of conversion to Hinduism.
There are now 13 states in India with some form of anti-conversion law in place. The Rev Vijayesh Lal, General Secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India, said, ‘These laws do not emerge in isolation. They embolden vigilante groups, as we have witnessed in every state where similar legislation has passed.’ The exemption of conversion to Hinduism exposed the discriminatory intent of the legislation, he said.
Sources: Morning Star News; Release International partner
