Saralnama
The Uttarakhand state cabinet approved amendments to the Freedom of Religion Act on August 13, 2025, increasing penalties for forced religious conversions up to life imprisonment and banning all digital media propaganda related to conversions. The law criminalizes online content on social media, messaging apps, and websites that promote or incite religious conversions, with punishments ranging from three to 20 years or life in extreme cases. The amendment broadens the definition of inducement to include gifts, cash, employment, free education, promises of marriage, hurting religious sentiments, or glorifying another religion. Authorities justify the digital ban citing cases of alleged online conversion schemes. Critics warn the vague terms risk criminalizing lawful speech, secular expression, and interfaith relationships, potentially leading to self-censorship and legal action against social media posts or online support groups. The law aligns with similar anti-conversion laws in other BJP-ruled states but extends restrictions explicitly to digital speech. The amendments raise concerns about constitutional rights to freedom of religion and expression under Articles 19(1)(a) and 25 of the Indian Constitution. The law also empowers district magistrates with arrest and property seizure authority related to conversion offenses. (Updated 29 Aug 2025, 10:57 IST; source: link)