(FW) – Four devout Christians have been arrested in Nepal. Their crime? Preaching the gospel of Jesus Christ. The four believers; ul Bahadur Pariyar, Rupa Sonam, Chandrakali Rawat, and Bhim Kumari, were arrested in the Salyan District on charges of “preaching Christianity.” According to International Christian Concern (ICC), authorities confiscated a bag of faith-based literature at the time of the arrest — the men are currently being detained under the country’s draconian anti-conversion law. In comments made to Faithwire,
ICC’s Regional Manager for South Asia, William Stark, noted the detainees are “unable to afford lawyers to represent them” at this time, and remain behind bars until a trial can be arranged. The clause specific clause in question is contained within Article 26 (3) of the constitution, and reads as follows: “No person shall, in the exercise of the right conferred by this Article, do, or cause to be done, any act which may be contrary to public health, decency and morality or breach public peace, or convert another person from one religion to another or any act or conduct that may jeopardize other’s religion and such act shall be punishable by law.” CONTINUE