Anti-Conversion Laws and the Denial of Religious Freedom
Anti-Conversion Laws and the Denial of Religious Freedom
Dr Michael Pulickal CMI, Secretary KCBC Vigilance Commission
In recent years, laws against so-called “forced conversions” have been gaining ground in India. At first glance, they appear to protect freedom of belief. In reality, however, they are rooted in fear of religious freedom itself.
The very concept of “forced conversion” is deeply flawed. True conversion is not something that can be imposed through pressure, gifts, or threats. Conversion is an inner transformation of the heart and mind, a free response to grace and truth. External coercion can never create genuine faith.
Faith Must Be Free
The Catholic Church has firmly rejected forced conversion. In fact, the Second Vatican Council, through its historic declaration Dignitatis Humanae (1965), called religious freedom as a fundamental right. It proclaimed (No. 10): “It is one of the major tenets of Catholic doctrine that man’s response to God in faith must be free: no one therefore is to be forced to embrace the Christian faith against his own will. This doctrine is contained in the word of God and it was constantly proclaimed by the Fathers of the Church. The act of faith is of its very nature a free act… It is therefore completely in accord with the nature of faith that in matters religious every manner of coercion on the part of men should be excluded.”
The Catechism of the Catholic Church (No. 160) echoes this truth: “To be human, man’s response to God by faith must be free, and… therefore nobody is to be forced to embrace the faith against his will. the act of faith is of its very nature a free act. God calls men to serve him in spirit and in truth. Consequently they are bound to him in conscience, but not coerced. This fact received its fullest manifestation in Christ Jesus. Indeed, Christ invited people to faith and conversion, but never coerced them. For he bore witness to the truth but refused to use force to impose it on those who spoke against it. His kingdom… grows by the love with which Christ, lifted up on the cross, draws men to himself.”
Thus, the Church not only opposes forced conversion but considers any such attempt a violation of human dignity. At the same time, the Church continues its mission of preaching the Gospel worldwide – not through pressure, but through service, dialogue, and witness. Efforts for justice, peace, care of the poor and marginalized, and protection of creation are part of this mission. Sadly, these works of love are often misrepresented as conversion activities by those who view them through a communal lens.
Rajasthan’s Law: Freedom Denied
On September 9, 2025, the Rajasthan Assembly passed the Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act. The law claims to prevent forced conversions but in practice severely restricts the right of individuals to freely choose their faith.
Under this law:
- Anyone wishing to convert must apply 90 days in advance.
- Religious ministers must notify authorities two months in advance.
- Applications for conversion are published publicly, exposing personal details.
- Any member of the public may object to the conversion.
- Even after conversion, the individual must appear before the District Magistrate multiple times and undergo repeated scrutiny.
Failure to comply can result in prison sentences of up to 20 years or even the death penalty in certain provisions. All offences under this law are non-bailable. Instead of protecting rights, the law instills fear, making conversion practically impossible even for those acting with full knowledge and consent.
A Tool for Harassment
In states where such laws exist, they are routinely misused. Minority communities, especially Christians and Muslims, face harassment through false accusations of forced conversion. A recent incident in Chhattisgarh saw two Catholic nuns and a young Christian falsely arrested under these laws at the instigation of extremist groups.
Such cases reveal the true purpose of these laws: they are not about protecting freedom but about restricting it. Strikingly, these laws do not apply to ghar wapasi campaigns – efforts to pressure individuals into returning to Hinduism. This selective enforcement exposes their communal intent.
The Constitutional Promise
The Indian Constitution (Articles 25–28) guarantees every citizen the right to freedom of religion: to believe, to practice, to propagate, and to live according to one’s faith. Anti-conversion laws, framed in the language of protection, in fact erode these fundamental rights.
India’s Constitution was not built to serve communal agendas. It was designed to uphold freedom, dignity, and equality for all. True religious freedom means more than the absence of coercion – it means the active protection of each individual’s right to choose and live their faith without fear.
Conclusion
Forced conversions that take advantage of the helplessness and ignorance of individuals should be opposed. However, the provisions of the anti-conversion laws currently in force in various states are such that even a person’s full knowledge and consent to religious conversion is denied. The struggle against anti-conversion laws is not only a religious issue; it is a human rights issue that concerns every Indian. A nation that values freedom must ensure that its laws do not become weapons of fear. Religious freedom is not a privilege granted by the state – it is a right that no government has the authority to deny.
