Religious Leaders Urge Repeal of Anti-Conversion Laws in Karnataka

Christian and Muslim leaders in Karnataka, India, held a joint press conference in Bengaluru on October 29 to demand the repeal of the Karnataka Protection of Right to Freedom of Religion Act, 2022. Led by Archbishop Peter Machado and community leader Mohammed Yahya Damudi, the delegation called on the current Indian National Congress government to honor its pre-election commitment to scrap the legislation, which was enacted under the previous Bharatiya Janata Party administration.

In addition to the anti-conversion law, the leaders requested the reversal of cattle-slaughter bans and the implementation of stronger measures against hate speech. While the current government campaigned on a platform of protecting minority rights, advocates expressed frustration over the administration's hesitation to formally repeal the laws. Media reports suggest the government is concerned about potential political backlash from the majority Hindu population.

This situation in Karnataka is part of a broader national trend, as 13 Indian states have enacted or tightened anti-conversion laws over the last decade. Proponents of these measures argue they are necessary to prevent forced or fraudulent conversions, while minority groups and human rights advocates contend the laws target religious freedom.