In India, a singular bond is forming between many Christians, Muslims, and Hindus, all striving for a typical aim: the abolishment of counterproductive anti-conversion legal guidelines and the following harassment by proper wing extremists and native authorities throughout the nation.

Leaders from every of those faiths have submitted quite a few petitions to India’s Supreme Court, difficult makes an attempt by sure nationalist politicians to impose illogical restrictions on non secular practices in a rustic whose various, non secular material is a secret to its brilliance. The chief justice’s bench has granted bail to scores of Christian workers who’ve circumstances filed in opposition to them within the state of Uttar Pradesh below anti-conversion legal guidelines.

Many analysts from various non secular backgrounds have asserted that these anti-conversion legal guidelines particularly goal Christians and are politically pushed to provoke a hardline anti-Christian voters. It’s clear that in sure circumstances this actuality is indeniable. But is that this the way in which to construct a nation, by sowing suspicion in opposition to a non secular neighborhood by false propaganda?

Some are actually caught within the momentum of all of it, and they’re those more and more coming to their senses. They’re seeing a transparent actuality: Anti-conversion legal guidelines should not the answer for a multi-faith society. Mutual respect for all faiths is required to carry India collectively.

For one, these legal guidelines reinforce India’s caste system by focusing on notably poor, low caste, and Dalit people, hindering their emancipation from an oppressive social hierarchy. Unfortunately, after centuries of injustice, few higher caste leaders in energy dare to problem the unjust system for worry of backlash. Yet India’s anti-untouchability legal guidelines have existed for 75 years. Even so, thousands and thousands of Dalits and low caste people are discriminated in opposition to by the higher castes.

This is the place the injustices skilled by Dalits intersects with anti-conversion legal guidelines.

Anti-conversion legal guidelines have an effect on Christians otherwise than different communities in India for varied causes. In the previous few years, hateful language and bodily assaults on Christians have elevated dramatically, and most anti-conversion legal guidelines single out Christians, particularly.

Low caste people, and girls from varied castes, have discovered non secular solace in Christianity, usually explicitly with out changing. They discover that Jesus meets their highest human aspirations. Christianity is a religion which requires society to raise the downtrodden, the poor, and the sick. This instructing encourages a phase of society which feels trapped by destiny.

That’s to not say that Indian Christianity is just not with out its flaws.

Some Christians from higher castes proceed to stick to the caste system themselves, contradicting Christ’s teachings, and—although hardly ever—some Christians have used unacceptable ways primarily imported from Western tradition.

Yet, in most Indian states with these arcane anti-conversion legal guidelines, few Christians if any have been convicted by a courtroom of partaking in pressured and deceitful conversions. Meanwhile, Christian teachings on the excellent news of Jesus are being rediscovered in India, inspiring the lives of each high and low caste residents, no matter their non secular identification.

Political events in energy have profanely disguised their anti-Christian, anti-conversion legal guidelines as “freedom of religion” legal guidelines. But it is not simply the incumbents accountable. The opposition Congress occasion additionally allowed India’s states to border such legal guidelines.

Muslims are additionally affected by these legal guidelines in a definite method, as allegations of a “love jihad” have led to restrictions on interfaith marriages. Consequently, younger {couples} in love should search authorities permission to marry, usually forcing them to flee their hometowns or face violent repercussions.

It’s time for India’s authorities to reverse course and make investments vitality elsewhere, starting with the celebration of India’s non secular range.

I can communicate for India’s Christians on one level: Indian Christians don’t have any political agenda to transform Indian states or the nation into “Christian” territories. Instead, our focus is on embodying Christ’s love in all features of life, embracing the richness of Hindu tradition with out requiring people to desert their distinctive cultural identities. We demand our constitutional freedom to take care of individuals no matter faith or caste.

India’s Supreme Court, led by Chief Justice Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud, has the chance to uphold the Constitution and safeguard the person’s proper to the liberty of faith. Needing a Justice of the Peace’s permission to decide on one’s religion is a transparent violation of their rights.

Additionally, the courtroom ought to clearly redefine what constitutes fraudulent or manipulative conversions, as current legal guidelines with unclear terminology solely contribute to confusion, and typically, violent battle. It is essential to make sure that varied faiths in India should not deemed improper until they incite hatred or violence in opposition to different religions.

India’s Supreme Court might strengthen the already current penal codes in order that manipulative conversions—if any exist—are handled below regulation. But it can not disregard the liberty of faith enshrined in India’s pristinely democratic structure.

Archbishop Joseph D’Souza is an internationally famend human and civil rights activist. He is the founding father of Dignity Freedom Network, a company that advocates for and delivers humanitarian help to the marginalized and outcastes of South Asia. He is archbishop of the Anglican Good Shepherd Church of India and serves because the president of the All India Christian Council.

The views expressed on this article are the author’s personal.