letter from South Asia
The legal noose tightens in India
Global news headlines often focus on the physical violence facing our Christian brothers and sisters in India – the church burnings, rape of nuns, and mob attacks. However, a more silent, clinical threat is sweeping across the nation. In the “world’s largest democracy”, the law itself is being transformed into a weapon to stifle the good news of God’s Kingdom.
The most recent blow fell on 7 April 2026, when Governor Ramen Deka signed the Chhattisgarh Freedom of Religion Act into law. Despite desperate protests from the Christian community, this legislation has cast a shadow of suspicion over even the smallest gatherings. It signals a move from the state merely failing to protect believers to the state actively orchestrating their suppression. [Chhattisgarh is a landlocked state in central India with a population of roughly 30 million, the 17th most populous, according to Wikipedia.]
letter from South Asia
A double standard that cannot be ignored
I have led churches in India for over 50 years, enjoying the privilege of walking with God’s people. Today, I feel heavy-hearted hearing about believers victimised by “anti-conversion laws” and their extreme amendments, which criminalise our basic faith expressions.
The Christian faith is communal. Since ancient times, Christians have gathered in homes for prayer, Bible study, and fellowship. The church has endured trials over the centuries simply by meeting together.