A recent ruling by the Allahabad High Court has brought encouraging news to Christians in the northern Indian state of Uttar Pradesh. This court decision may help to more precisely determine who is legally qualified to file a grievance under the state's anti-conversion law, as well as provide some beneficial legal guidelines on what constitutes "allurement."
In January of this year, Pastor Jose Papachen and his wife Sheeja were sent to jail after a leader of the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party accused the couple of luring people to Christianity. Although the two believers appealed the decision, their application for bail was denied in March. Fortunately, following a ruling issued by the high court on September 6th, in which the judge determined that the accusations against them were not in contravention of the legislation, the two Christians were released on bail.
The court ruled that "accusations of alluring people to convert" can only be filed by the person being targeted or by a family member of that person. Therefore, a third party cannot file the accusation, as was done in the case against Pastor Jose and Sheeja. The court also determined that distributing a Bible and imparting "good teachings" are not considered to be acts of "allurement for religious conversion."
In his ruling, Justice Shamim Ahmad observed: "Providing teaching, distributing [a] Holy Bible, encouraging children [to receive an] education, organizing [an] assembly of villagers and performing bhandara [providing a free meal], [and] instructing villagers not to enter into [an] altercation [nor] to take liquor, do not amount to allurement under the 2021 act."
Christians in the Uttar Pradesh state have frequently been targets of vindictive neighbours and militant community members who use false accusations of forcible conversions against them. While the recent encouraging ruling only relates to this particular case, and specifically applies within this Indian state, Christian leaders are hopeful that it may serve as a precedent in determining future allegations. For more details on the difficulties faced by Christians in India, and/or to review previously published reports, go to our country report.
Praise God for the wisdom demonstrated by the court's presiding judge after his consideration of the presented legal arguments. Pray that the judge's equitable ruling will help to prevent other similar cases from being filed against our Christian brothers and sisters in Uttar Pradesh state, and potentially throughout the entire country of India. Now that a favourable verdict has been determined, may the Lord protect Pastor Jose and Sheeja as they return to their community and adjust to life following the ordeal.
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