India Orders Nonprofits to Sign Statement Promising Not to Participate in Religious Conversions

In its persecution of Christians, India will now force nonprofits to sign commitments to not evangelize or “engage in religious conversion.” 

The Christian Post reported the move on Sunday, which backs employees of foreign-funded nonprofits into a corner and places amendments to the Foreigners Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA). The act regulates foreign aid and according to the Times of India, it has given the government permission to freeze bank accounts of non-governmental organizations.

“These new modifications will reignite fears that NGOs will be selectively targeted and their FCRA registration canceled and their bank accounts frozen,” Global Council of Indian Christians President Sajan K George said. “Every organization whose goals can be interpreted in the broadest sense of sectarian discord, or with accusations of conversion or as a simple ‘violation’ will be included.”

The new restriction is a result of the Bharatiya Janata Party’s (BJP) rise to power in 2014. The Hindu nationalist group has pushed for increased persecution of Christians and other religious minorities.

More than 11,000 foreign-funded NGOs have lost their licenses to serve the country, including Christian sponsorship organization Compassion International in 2017. The nonprofit stopped its ministry to over 147,000 children in the country because…