Christians expressed concern Tuesday after Uttarakhand approved India’s most severe anti-conversion legislation, prescribing life imprisonment and steep fines for what the Hindu nationalist-ruled state calls “forced conversions.”
The Freedom of Religion (Amendment) Bill, 2025, was passed during a stormy assembly session last week, expanding the maximum punishment from 10 years in prison to 20 years or life imprisonment, along with fines of up to 1 million Indian rupees (approximately $11,500).
The law allows police to arrest suspects without a warrant, seize property, and makes offences non-bailable. Online or social media messages interpreted as promoting conversion are also punishable, raising concerns over free speech.
“These provisions, with penalties up to life imprisonment, represent some of India’s harshest anti-conversion measures and could turn ordinary conversations about belief into criminal acts,” warned the Rev. Vijayesh Lal, general secretary of the Evangelical Fellowship of India.
The law reserves harsher penalties for cases involving women, minors, tribal communities, or Dalits. Conversions linked to foreign funding will carry sentences of seven to 14 years, while those involving force, inducement, trafficking, or marriage promises may result in life sentences.
Concealing religion for marriage purposes could mean up to 10 years in prison and fines of more than $3,000.
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Uttarakhand has now joined a growing number of Indian states that are tightening anti-conversion laws.
At least 10 states, including Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, and Haryana, have adopted similar measures, although most carry shorter prison terms of up to 10 years.
As many as 13 states have passed such laws, although several remain inactive or are being legally challenged.
Rights advocates and Christian groups say the legislation will deepen religious polarization and restrict India’s constitutional freedoms.
Critics argue it effectively criminalizes evangelism and voluntary religious choice in the predominantly Hindu nation.
