Bishop Gerald Mathias of Lucknow has expressed strong condemnation following the arrest of four Christians in Uttar Pradesh, the most populous and fourth-largest state of India.
The prelate described the arrests as a misuse of anti-conversion laws and an infringement on religious freedom.
In a recent incident that has sparked widespread concern, four individuals, including a pastor, were arrested in the district of Moradabad on allegations of forced conversions.
The charges stem from a complaint filed by local Hindu organizations, claiming that the accused offered financial incentives and goods for religious conversion.
Speaking to AsiaNews, Bishop Mathias highlighted the increasing challenges faced by the Christian community in India, particularly in states with stringent anti-conversion regulations.
“The Christian community cannot freely profess, practice, and propagate its faith,” he stated, referencing the constitutional rights purportedly violated by such arrests.
The bishop criticized the legal framework, particularly the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021, under which these arrests were made.
He argued that these laws are often “used crudely” to target religious minorities, with pastors frequently detained on unsubstantiated charges.
“Innocent people are languishing in prisons,” Bishop Mathias remarked, adding that the arrests are typically based on complaints from Hindu nationalist groups without sufficient evidence.
According to him, the legal stipulations require that only the aggrieved individuals or their close relatives should be able to initiate such complaints, a protocol not observed in many cases.
This latest incident reflects a broader pattern of hostility towards Christians in India, where religious gatherings are increasingly interrupted by vigilante actions under the guise of upholding the law.
Bishop Mathias called for an immediate reevaluation of the enforcement of anti-conversion laws, advocating for justice and the protection of religious liberties for all citizens, regardless of faith.
