Christian missionaries told to leave Nepal

Extremist groups in Nepal have warned Christian missionaries to leave the country, Fides reports.

Police battled violent protests as Nepal struggled to draft its new constitution. Reuters

Nepal is a secular state under the new constitution but an extremist Hindu group have distributed leaflets threatening Christians and warning them to leave.

"Christians have corrupted the country," the leaflet distributed by the 'Morcha Nepal' group read.

"Foreign influence have manipulated government decisions."

Despite this, Christian missionaries are continuing to work in Nepal, Fides sources said.

"Christians continue their mission of dialogue and proclamation of the Gospel of charity towards all," the source said.

However Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) has pointed out that the new constitution contains an anti-conversion clause that makes "any act to convert another person from one religion to another" illegal.

The new clause is a violation of international treaties, CSW said in a statement.

article,article,article Related

"This fails to allow for choosing and changing one's faith to be seen as a positive individual choice or as a matter of individual rights, as required by international treaties which Nepal has signed and ratified," the statement read.

As well as distributing leaflets, the radical Hindu group proposed an amendment to the Charter, calling for Nepal to proclaimed a "Hindu state" again.

The amendment was rejected and Nepal remains a secular state.

However the anti-conversion clause remains, making proselytising illegal and recent bomb attacks on two churches are a worrying sign of ongoing persecution against Christians.

related articles
Anti-conversion laws threaten religious freedom in Nepal
Anti-conversion laws threaten religious freedom in Nepal

Anti-conversion laws threaten religious freedom in Nepal

Nepal: Freedom of religion now \'more at stake than ever\'
Nepal: Freedom of religion now 'more at stake than ever'

Nepal: Freedom of religion now 'more at stake than ever'

Christians under threat in Nepal as anti-conversion law passed

Christians under threat in Nepal as anti-conversion law passed

News
NI conversion therapy proposal will criminalise innocent behaviour
NI conversion therapy proposal will criminalise innocent behaviour

A proposal to ban conversion therapy in Northern Ireland has been labelled "jellyfish legislation".

Renewing the old and sanctifying the new in education
Renewing the old and sanctifying the new in education

Hebrew academic and Jewish scholar Irene Lancaster reflects on what society can learn from the Jewish approach to education and the importance of nurturing the soul.

Half of students think the Bible is relevant today
Half of students think the Bible is relevant today

Is the glass half empty, or is it half full?

Lancashire called to pray for partners in crisis-hit South Sudan
Lancashire called to pray for partners in crisis-hit South Sudan

The Diocese of Blackburn has forged strong ties with its South Sudanese counterpart in Liwolo.