An amendment to an existing sacrilege law in one Indian state imposes penalties up to life imprisonment for offenses and establishes stricter enforcement.
Christians fear the amendment’s passage may signal that anticonversion laws are in the future, reported Morning Star News.
Stay updated on stories like this — Get news delivered to your inbox
In April, the assembly of India’s Punjab state approved the Jaagat Jot Sri Guru Granth Sahib Satkar (Amendment) Act. This act “criminaliz(es) sacrilege, meaning desecration of the Guru Granth Sahib, the holy scripture of the Sikhs, revered by them as a living guru,” the news outlet explained.
Punjab state has, since 2008, had a sacrilege law that was limited in scope, Morning Star said.
The amended law, however, dictates a sentence of seven years to life, depending on the offense, and fines ranging from $2,150 to $26,900. No warrant is necessary for arrest, and the accused cannot seek bail, Morning Star continued.
“The nonbailable character of all offenses means a malicious complaint filed without evidence translates into police custody before any court examines its merits,” the news service added.
World Watch
India is No. 12 on Open Doors’ 2026 World Watch List of the 50 places most difficult to be a Christian.
Share with others: