Source: www.worthynews.com
Date: March 4, 2025
by Emmitt Barry, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – More than 10 Christians were recently arrested in various regions of Uttar Pradesh, a northern state in India, on charges of illegal religious conversions under the Uttar Pradesh Unlawful Religious Conversion Prohibition Act, according to a prominent Christian persecution advocacy group.
These arrests are part of a growing trend of targeting Christians under Uttar Pradesh’s controversial anti-conversion law, amended last year to grant authorities broad powers to arrest anyone accused of conversion based on complaints from unrelated individuals.
So far this year, more than 30 pastors and Christians have been detained, with most complaints filed by representatives of fringe, militant right-wing groups claiming to be “protectors of the Hindu religion,” according to International Christian Concern.
A Christian advocate, speaking on condition of anonymity, stated, “The anti-conversion law has become a convenient tool to criminalize routine worship activities.”
India ranks 11th on Open Doors’ World Watch List 2025 for the most extreme persecution of Christians. The report points to Hindu extremists who view Christians as outsiders and promote Hindu nationalism, resulting in violent attacks, social exclusion, and legal challenges, particularly for converts from Hinduism.