This is a first.
Jose and Sheeja Pappachan, a Christian couple, have been sentenced to five years in prison under Uttar Pradesh’s “anti-conversion” law. This is reportedly the first conviction under the law in India. They were accused of attempting to force others to convert to Christianity, a charge that the Christian community views as unfair. Along with their prison sentence, they were fined 25,000 rupees each. A.C. Michael, from the United Christian Forum, expressed concern over the verdict, arguing that the evidence presented did not support the charges.
The couple’s conviction came after changes to the Uttar Pradesh anti-conversion law in 2024, which expanded its reach by allowing third-party complaints in cases of alleged religious conversion. The complaint was filed by a BJP member who accused the couple of targeting Dalit communities during a Christmas event in 2022. During their trial, the Pappachans maintained that their activities focused on community support, such as distributing Bibles and promoting education, with no intent to coerce anyone into converting.
After spending eight months in jail, the couple was granted bail by the High Court in September 2023. The court ruled that actions like distributing Bibles and organizing community gatherings did not constitute forced conversions. Despite their release, this case underscores the challenges faced by Christians in India, where anti-conversion laws are sometimes used to target them.
The United Christian Forum has reported a rise in incidents of violence and harassment against Christians in recent years, particularly in Uttar Pradesh. Many Christians have been accused of “forcible” conversions, with some imprisoned and denied bail. As a religious minority, Christians in India frequently face hostility from nationalist groups who accuse them of converting people under duress.