6 Christian women arrested in India. © Christian Care International/Hameslive

They came to celebrate a birthday. Hindu extremists emerged. Six Indian Christian women find themselves in prison, accused of “forced conversion”.

Birthday party ends in jail for Indra Kala, Subhagi Devi, Sadhna, Savita, Anita and Sunita. Why is that? Because the incident took place in Uttar Pradesh, India. Uttar Pradesh passed an “anti-conversion” law in early 2021. As a result, these six Christian women were put behind bars.

There’s a party going wrong

It was supposed to be a party. Last July 30, a hundred Christians gathered to celebrate the anniversary. But 15 members of a Hindu nationalist group stormed in. They filmed the participants and confiscated Bibles, hymnbooks and religious books. For them there is no doubt: this is a document proving that Christians forced their guests to convert! In fact, in India, Christians seldom congregate without their Bibles and hymns. It is part of their habit, a means of being in brotherly fellowship and with God.

Complaints and arrests

Armed with their “evidence”, 15 extremists filed complaints against Christians for “forced conversion”. Instead of reprimanding the troublemakers, the police stepped in and arrested 6 women, one of whom was physically disabled, the other a widow and the other from a very poor social background.

After their arrest, the 6 women were denied bail. One church leader complained:

“Not only are we not free to worship Jesus, but we are not even allowed to celebrate birthdays!”

Let us be encouraged by the faith of our brothers and sisters in India and pray for all who continue to worship, despite the injustices they suffer.

Sources: International Christian Concern, Hameslive and Asia News.