A pastor in Uttar Pradesh, India, is facing ongoing legal challenges after a house church gathering in March 2023 was disrupted by a mob. About 20 men entered the pastor’s home during a worship service attended by 13 people, shouting Hindu slogans before dragging the pastor outside and beating him. Authorities later charged him under the state’s anticonversion law, accusing him of forcibly converting Hindus. Reflecting on the attack, the pastor said, “I never imagined they would find us. We were just worshiping quietly in a remote village in our own home.”
The incident highlights broader concerns among Christians in the region. According to the United Christian Forum, Uttar Pradesh has recorded more than 1,300 incidents of violence against Christians since 2014. Many cases involve accusations tied to the state’s “Freedom of Religion” laws, which criminalize conversions deemed forced or induced.
Recently, the Allahabad High Court ruled that prayer meetings held on private property do not require prior permission, affirming religious freedom under India’s Constitution. However, Christian leaders say anticonversion laws continue to create fear and legal uncertainty for believers and house churches across the state.
