By Team
Two Christians were arrested and jailed after extremists disrupted a prayer meeting in Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India on Sunday, April 26.
Both men were accused of unlawfully attempting to gain converts through force, fraud, or allurement. The pair have since been released on bail.
The extremists forced their way into the building, confronting the congregation and eventually forcing the service to close.
The Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Bill, or “anti-conversion law,” prohibits seeking converts through force or coercion.
Thirteen Indian states have anti-conversion laws.
Extremists often wrongly believe that such laws criminalize all conversions from Hinduism, or even that they outlaw any form of Christian evangelism or worship.
The context for religious minorities in India is complex; some states are pursuing an aggressive anti-Christian agenda, while others promote tolerance and coexistence.
This story was originally published in barnabasaid.org.