Pastor Beaten and Accused of ''Forcible Conversion''

16 November 2005 0 minutes read

In the northern Indian state of Himachal Pradesh, more than sixty new believers are being threatened with death if they refuse to return to Hinduism. On November 4, Pastor Feroz Masih was traveling to a nearby village when he was stopped by approximately ten members of the World Hindu Council (Vishwa Hindu Parishad or VHP) and its youth wing Bajrang Dal. They accused him of being involved in the forced conversion of Hindus. According to a November 14 report from Compass Direct, Ramesh was then severely beaten and suffered serious internal injuries. He was forced to sign a statement that he was willing to reconvert to Hinduism. The VHP members then said they would be coming to his home on November 20 to conduct a puja (reconversion ritual) for Masih and the sixty members of his church. Those who refuse will be burned to death.

Masih and his son reported the beating and death threats to the police. The police refused to press charges for the beating and called it a "minor incident." They have not yet responded to the death threats.

(Sources: Gospel for Asia, Compass Direct)

India

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Current Ministry Projects
VOMC assists persecuted Christians with legal support and rehabilitation assistance, and cares for children of martyrs by providing them with a safe place to be nurtured physical and spiritually. VOMC also partners to equip Christians in India with Biblical training and works to strengthen and support marginalized and persecuted Christian women. Additionally, VOMC helps to provide medical assistance to believers who have faced injuries after being attacked.”

Project Funds: Families of Martyrs, Equipping the Saints, Legal Defense, Relief and Development, Women’s Ministry, Medical Fund
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1,399,179,585 (2023 est.)

Ethnicity (%)
Indo-Aryan (72), Dravidian (25), other (3)

Religion (%)
Hinduism (79.8), Muslim (14.2), Christianity (2.3), Sikh (1.7), other (2)

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President Droupadi Murmu (2022)

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Federal parliamentary republic

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Based on English common law; separate personal law codes apply to Christians, Hindus and Muslims.

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Pray for India
Despite the intimidation and violence that have taken place in many of India's states, may Christians wisely yet unashamedly preach the Gospel. Pray that indigenous Christians and foreign missionaries will minister in ways that do not hint at fraudulent conversions, unmasking the intentions behind the anti-conversion legislation. Intercede for India's leaders, that they may reign with justice and righteousness.