Infomercial in India Discourages Conversions

(Compass) – Cinemas in a town in Gujarat state have begun screening a public service announcement challenging religious conversion. The infomercial suggesting that changing one’s faith is impossible was ostensibly made to educate audiences about the state anti-conversion law, which prohibits conversion “by the use of force or allurement or by fraudulent means.” The law is not yet in effect. Indeed, in June the Gujarat High Court rejected a petition lodged by Christian and Buddhist communities against the anti-conversion law on grounds that the state had yet to implement it. Samson Christian, joint secretary of the All India Christian Council, said the infomercial was misleading and unlawful.