Nepal--Christian Persecution in Nepal

Asia: Nepal Country Report Last Updated: June 2002 Code: Not Rated (Click here for a code description.)
	(Click here for a list of ICC articles on Nepal.) List of Articles Last Updated: December 18, 2000

Religious Atmosphere: 

Nepal is the world's only Hindu Kingdom. Hindus make up 90% of the population while 5% of the people are Buddhist and 3% are Muslim. The Christian population is small but growing. It is estimated that there are around 400,000 Christians in Nepal with at least 170 churches operating in Kathmandu. People who convert from Hinduism to another religion may be socially ostracized.

Government:

• The country does not have an official state religion, but it declares Nepal to be a Hindu Kingdom.
• While the Constitution supposedly provides religious freedom, conversion and proselytizing are prohibited and can be punished by fines or imprisonment. Foreigners found guilty of proselytizing can be expelled from the country.

Extremist Groups:

• Various Hindu extremist groups exist.

Recent Actions:

• June 2002 - Christian Aid Mission reported that Kirat believers are being threatened by non-Christian members of their own community. The Kirat belong to a Shamanistic faith which is neither Hindu nor Buddhist. Some members of the community have joined a movement known as the Khambuwan. The Khambuwan, which has been siding with Maoist rebels, has threatened to kill believers and destroy their church if they don't discontinue practicing their faith.
     
• February 11, 2001 – All charges were dismissed against the four Christians arrested on October 31, 2000 when witnesses to their "crime" failed to appear in court. A judge in Rajbiraj ordered that all four be released on February 15th.
     
• January 2001 – Timothy Rai, Devi Prasad Bhattarai, and Prem Bahadur Rai remained imprisoned in Rajbiraj while Trond Berg has been transferred to Kathmandu Central Jail. The Nepal Supreme Court refused to hear Mr. Berg’s case and denied a petition that would allow the other three Christians to return to the capital for trial.
     
• November 1, 2000 – The four men arrested on October 31^st were imprisoned in Rajbiraj after a judge relented under strong pressure from Hindu sadhus (holy men) to imprison the Christians
   
• October 31, 2000 -- Four Christians were arrested on during a meeting organized by Campus Crusade for Christ in Saptari. Trond Berg, a missionary from Norway, and native Christians Timothy Rai, Devi Prasad Bhattarai, and Prem Bahadur Rai attended the meeting where a so-called Christian claimed he had been given money to renounce Hinduism and become a Christian. A riot broke out, leading to the arrest of the Christians as local Hindus claimed that were using bribes of money and jobs to produce converts.
    
• October 2000 - An Indian Christian group visiting Tikapur for a church conference was detained and police officers confiscated their van. Several officers then used the van for a personal trip. Unbeknownst to the police officers, a group of robbers was lying in wait for the van, which they expected to be full of Christians. However, instead of robbing and killing the Christians, the robbers were attacked by the police officers.
     
• August 28, 1999 - Hindus angered by the desecration of their temple retaliated against local Christians by destroying their church. A Hindu temple in Janakpur was vandalized on August 22nd by a man who claimed Jesus had told him to do it. Although local Christians assured Hindu leaders that the man was not a member of any local church, an extremist Hindu group stirred up local Hindus to attack a Christian church and leper colony.
     
• April 2, 1999 - Christians seeking to hold a Good Friday service were beaten in Patan. Church leaders planning to hold the service at a local sports club were denied permission by Chief District Officer (CDO). When over 500 Christians gathered at the CDO's office to find out why permission was denied, riot police attacked the group with truncheons, injuring at least 28 people. The Christians had already paid the sports club for the use of the facility and had widely advertised the event. Thus, it seems there was no just reason the meeting should not have been held.
    
• 1998 - A pastor and an elder of a church in Rukum were killed by police. Both Sukram Magar and Gobal Buddha were shot to death after holding a prayer meeting. The two were apparently caught in the crossfire of fighting between the government and Maoist forces in Rukum.

Prisoners: ICC is not aware of anyone currently being held for his or her Christian beliefs.

Suggested Actions you might take:

• Pray for the Christians of Nepal that they may be better protected from harm and harassment and that the Christian message may be heard and received by all.
• Write a respectful letter to one or more government officials at the address listed below. Request information about what steps the government is taking to ensure their protection and freedom to practice their faith as laid out in the UN's Universal Declaration of Human Rights and other international human rights documents.
• Contact the elected national officials (Senators, Congressman etc.) for your area as well as the U.S. State Department and express concern for the well being of the Christians in Nepal asking them to make an inquiry into the status
• Please keep us informed of any replies or results you may receive! Contact ICC by email at icc@persecution.org.

Official Contacts:

POSTED:  June 25, 2002

ICC Articles on Nepal:

• November 2000 - Prayer Points - Greece, Nepal, Nigeria, Sudan, Tajikistan