NEPAL: Christians Harassed for Sharing Their Faith

Source: The Voice of the Martyrs CA; The Voice of the Martyrs USA; Voice of the Martyrs AU

While three Christians, including Pastor Dipak Shrestha, were sharing their faith on 23 March in the remote village of Banjara, Madhesh Province, they were confronted by members of the militant Hindu group, Bajarangi Dal. The aggressors physically assaulted the evangelists before reporting them to the police.

The Believers were detained by local authorities and brought before the district court later that day. Although there was no evidence of any criminal activity, police requested additional time to investigate the situation. Meanwhile, all three men presently remain under legal scrutiny.

This situation raises continued concerns about biases within the country’s police enforcement and judicial system, as the government of Nepal is taking an increasingly strong stand against religious conversion. Despite the 2015 constitution that guaranteed religious freedom, Parliament has criminalised converting someone to another religion under Nepal’s anti-conversion laws.

There is a small, visible Christian community in Nepal, but Believers experience opposition from extremists among the Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist and Marxist groups, especially in response to evangelism and conversions in rural areas.

• Ask God to sustain the evangelists and their families in every way during this difficult time of scrutinous investigation.

• Pray that the hearts of the accusers and authorities be softened, leading to the withdrawal of any potential charges against the accused.

• Pray that Nepal’s governing officials, lawyers and judges will exercise wisdom, fairness and courage so they can rightfully uphold justice for all Christian leaders in Nepal who face persecution for practising and sharing their Christian faith.