Churches in India's Maharashtra Require Consent Forms Amid Strict Anti-Conversion Law

Some churches in Mumbai and surrounding areas in Maharashtra state, India, have begun asking worshippers to sign informal consent forms declaring they are attending services voluntarily. This practice follows the implementation of a strict new anti-conversion law in Maharashtra, designed to prohibit religious conversions carried out through force, coercion, undue influence, or financial inducements. Under the new regulations, individuals intending to convert voluntarily must inform authorities in advance, with illegal conversions carrying prison sentences ranging from seven to ten years. Religious leaders adopted the consent document measure to protect themselves from false allegations of illegal forced conversions. Critics argue the law infringes on personal choices and has heightened fear among minority religious groups, particularly Christians and Muslims. Reports indicate that several Christian prayer gatherings have been disrupted, leading to police cases against both worshippers and members of Hindu nationalist groups like Bajrang Dal. Maharashtra is among more than ten Indian states that have enacted similar anti-conversion legislation.