Advocates Praise & Prayer Alert: India Anti-Conversion Law Case

An Advocates International
Praise and Prayer Alert

May 1, 2012

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Praise and Prayer Report
Anti-conversion law case in India

Thank you again for your regular prayers for all of our Advocates around the globe. Thank you for your particular prayers for Robin David and the team of CLA Advocates in India who are representing the Evangelical Fellowship of India in their case to overturn the anti-conversion law in Himachal Pradesh province. Praise the Lord that they have on their team as the Senior Advocate arguing in court, a Hindu lawyer who is doing such a terrific job, and whose standing with the judges, as a Hindu arguing on behalf of religious minorities, is helping in a huge way.

Here is the latest update from Robin regarding the latest hearing on April 30.

"As you are aware this case challenges the constitutional validity of the Himachal Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act. The impugned act vaguely defines terms like "conversion", "force" , "allurement" and "divine displeasure" and compels any person intending to convert his religion to take permission from the District Magistrate before doing so. The act also provides for punishment for "converting". It greatly affects the rights of monotheistic religions to freely propagate their tenets, further the vague definitions are likely to be abused and misused to the detriment of a few minority religious groups. The legality of the said Act has been challenged on these grounds. This case was filed in January 2011.

Recently several individuals have filed applications seeking to be impleaded as respondents (made as respondents) to defend the enactment. We strongly opposed the impleadment applications on various grounds and also relying on judicial precedents from other High Courts in India. After hearing us today, the court while disallowing the impleadment applications permitted the parties to address arguments at the time of final arguments. The case has been adjourned to June 12, 2012."

Please continue to lift up the entire team in your prayers as they now prepare for the next hearing in June.

Thanks again for your prayers.

May the Lord bless and keep you in His perfect. . .

Grace and Peace,

Brent McBurney

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