This issue update examines the common features of India’s 12 state-level anti-conversion laws and explains how those features are inconsistent with international human rights law. Common features of these laws include prohibitions on conversions, notifying the government of one’s intent to convert, and burden-shifting provisions that presume an individual accused of violating an anti-conversion law is guilty. Each of these features violates rights protected by the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights. The report concludes that repealing India’s state-level anti-conversion laws is necessary to comply with international human rights law and to help prevent the country’s poor religious freedom conditions from further deteriorating.
2023 India Apostasy Issue UpdateClick here to download this report