Prospects dim for religious freedom in Nepal

KATHMANDU, Nepal — A new constitution that Nepal’s Parliament is scheduled to put into effect before May 28 may not include the right to propagate one’s faith. The draft constitution, aimed at completing the country’s transition from a Hindu monarchy to a secular democracy, contains provisions in its “religious freedom” section that prohibit anyone from converting others from one religion to another. Most political leaders in the Himalayan country seemed unaware of how this prohibition would curb religious freedom.

“Nepal will be a secular state — there is no other way,” said Sushil Koirala, president of the Nepali Congress, Nepal’s “Grand Old Party,” but he added that he was not aware of the proposal to restrict the right to evangelism. “Forcible conversions cannot be allowed, but the members of the Constituent Assembly should be made aware of (the evangelism ban’s) implications,” Koirala said. Gagan Thapa, another leader of the Nepali Congress, admitted that banning all evangelistic activities could lead to undue restrictions. “Perhaps the words ‘force, inducement and coercion’ should be inserted to prevent only unlawful conversions,” he said.