NEPAL. June 15, 2016 (by Suzette Gutierrez Cachila, Christian Times): Seven Christians were arrested on Thursday, June 9, in Dolakha district, Nepal for allegedly converting people to Christianity. The seven Christians had reportedly distributed handkerchiefs together with Bible handbooks called “A Great Story” to a total of 885 students. Local authorities learned about the activity and reported it to the police, according to UCA News. The persons involved were all arrested on charges of converting other people to another religion through the distribution of religious handbooks, which is illegal under the constitution. The 2015 amendments to the Nepalese constitution include a provision that makes it illegal for any person to convert another to a different religion.
Article 26 (3) states: “No person shall, in the exercise of the right conferred by this Article, do, or cause to be done, any act which may be contrary to public health, decency and morality or breach public peace, or convert another person from one religion to another or any act or conduct that may jeopardize other’s religion.” Although “freedom of religion” or expression of one’s beliefs is allowed in the country, this provision has made evangelization an illegal activity in Nepal. Christians in the country fear that this could lead to the inclusion of an “anti-conversion clause” in the penal code, which could put violators in prison, according to World Watch Monitor. Nepal is 80 percent Hindu. Religious minorities, including Christians, comprise 1.5 to 3 percent of the total population.