Christians may soon be prohibited from participating in church services and other religious activities in Nepal after the predominantly Hindu nation adopted a new Constitution on Monday.
In an effort to stabilise a country that was wracked by civil war in 2006, killing some 17,000 people, the Nepalese government crafted the country's first post-monarchy constitution, which contains provisions that could eventually render all Christian activity in the country illegal.
In its report published on Aug. 7, World Watch Monitor said Nepal's amended charter actually contains provisions to address secularism, which can pave the way for an "anti-conversion clause" to be written in the penal code.
"Article 31(3) states that 'any act to convert another person from one religion to another, or any act or behaviour to undermine or jeopardise the religion of another [will be] punishable by law,'" World Watch Monitor reported.
"Christians fear this will pave the way for an 'anti-conversion clause' to be written into the penal code, which could result in prison sentences or hefty fines for "offenders," it added.
The World Watch Monitor explained that while the amendments relate to all religions, the new constitution did not contain any specification as to what constitutes an "act to convert."
This, it said, holding church services accessible to all, or even simply organising events to aid the disadvantaged could be interpreted as "evangelistic" and, therefore, punishable by law.
"The Church has never been recognised as an official religious institution within Nepal, and Nepali Christians complain that they have suffered inequality and persecution for decades," the World Watch Monitor said.
read more: http://goo.gl/ybkjRO _________________ SI Moderator - Greg Gordon
|