Couple Charged with Forcible Conversion


Blessed Children's Home building
On April 27, a couple who operates an orphanage and boarding school in Birganj city in southern Nepal was imprisoned on charges of forcible conversion.  According to EquipNepal, Babu and Sabitri Varghese could face up to three years in prison. They were scheduled to appear before the courts today to answer these charges.  In a hand-written note from jail, Babu wrote, "We count it's a great privilege to suffer for our God."

Emails received by EquipNepal from Babu, state that the incident began when a former employee of the school stole a picture of an adult baptism, apparently with extortion in mind.  The picture was sent to a local newspaper which published it in conjunction with an article accusing the orphanage of converting the children.  The newspaper then attempted to extort 100,000 rupees (over $1700 CDN) from the couple.  When they refused, a further article was published a few days later, calling Babu a "contractor for Christianity" and demanding six years in prison for the Vargheses.  They were accused of "making the orphans Christian."  On the contrary, Janis Viren of EquipNepal, states that while the school is a Christian school, most of the students are Hindu.  The orphanage, Blessed Children's Home, has seventy-eight children at present.  The Grace English Boarding School has over 300 students.

News article accusing the Vargheses of converting children

Pray that the couple will be released soon.  Pray for their two sons, Blesson (7) and Benson (9), and another infant who considers them her parents.  Pray for the remaining orphanage staff as they continue to care for the needs of the children.

For more information on religious liberty in Nepal, click here.

  • Current Ministry Project

    Through training on awareness, advocacy, and the theology of persecution, VOMC is helping to equip church leaders in Nepal to better respond to and withstand persecution.

    Project Fund: Equipping the Saints

  • Country Information

    Population
    30,899,443 (2023 est.)

    Ethnicity (%)
    Chhettri (16.5), Brahman-Hill (11.3), Magar (6.9), Tharu (6.2), Tamang (5.6), Bishwokarma (5), Musalman (4.9), Newar (4.6), Yadav (4.2), Rai (2.2), Pariyar (1.9), Gurung (1.9), Thakuri (1.7), Mijar (1.6), Teli (1.5), Yakthung/Lumbu (1.4), Chamar/Harijan/Ram (1.4), Koiri/Kushwaha (1.2), other (20)

    Religion (%)
    Hindu (81.2), Buddhist (8.2), Muslim (5.1), Kirat (3.2), Christian (1.8), Other (0.5), Unspecifed (0.2)

    Leader
    President Ram Chandra Poudel (2023)

    Government type
    Federal parliamentary republic

    Legal system
    English common law and Hindu legal concepts

    Source: CIA World Factbook

  • Pray for Nepal

    Pray that Christians will practice their faith with courage.

    Pray that despite the lack of freedom to share the hope of faith in Christ, the Lord will give Christians opportunities to evangelize.

Select a Region

Nepal News

  • Appeal Denied for Pastor
    Keshav Raj Acharya is smiling.
    Pastor Keshav Raj Acharya
    Photo: Christian Solidarity Worldwide

    In November 2021, Keshav Raj Acharya, the pastor of the Abundant Harvest Church in Pokhara, Nepal, was convicted of proselytising and, as a result, sentenced to two years in prison. Even though his sentence was reduced to one year upon appeal, Pastor Keshav subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court of Nepal. For more details, read these reports.

    Read more...

  • Church Attacked as Part of Growing Trend
    A congregation in Nepal.
    A church service in Nepal.
    Photo: World Watch Monitor

    Two churches in the same town of Nepal's Lumbini Province were attacked during the first four days of September. Reports describing the incident indicate that damage was done to the facilities of both churches, as well as to a motorbike. In one photograph, two men identified as pastors are shown being assaulted on the street. A sticky black substance was smeared on their faces in an act considered a cultural sign of disrespect and hatred.

    Read more...

  • Pastor Keshav Released on Bail
    Keshav Raj Acharya and his wife.
    Photo: Voice of America

    Since March 2020, Pastor Keshav Raj Acharya of the Abundant Harvest Church in Pokhara, Nepal, has faced numerous allegations and charges. Initially charged with spreading false information about COVID-19, the pastor was eventually cleared of all accusations. However, he was later arrested for two cases of "outraging religious feelings." In July 2022, he was convicted and sentenced to one year in prison. (For more information, click here.)

    Read more...

  • Pastor Receives One-Year Sentence
    Pastor Keshav Raj Acharya
    Pastor Keshav Raj Acharya
    Photo: Christian Solidarity Worldwide

    Pastor Keshav Raj Acharya of the Abundant Harvest Church in Pokhara, Nepal, has faced ongoing pressure from Nepalese authorities over the past two years. Initially detained in March 2020, he was accused of spreading false information about COVID-19 after uttering a recorded statement that "God is able to heal." Eventually those charges were dropped, but the pastor was arrested twice more for allegedly trying to convert Hindus to Christianity and "outraging religious feelings." In November 2021, he was convicted but granted bail a month later while appealing the ruling (see this page).

    Read more...

View All

Nepal Videos

 
Nepal: "From the Dust" - John Monger's story
/component/allvideoshare/category/nepal.htm
 
Nepal: Christians 'On Top of the World' Facing Persecution
/component/allvideoshare/category/nepal.htm