Religious Persecution

Seven Christians are arrested in three incidents in Madhya Pradesh.

Between September 24 and 27, a worship service and a prayer meeting ended in arrests for alleged unlawful conversion, each after complaints from radical groups.

Religious PersecutionBarnabas AidSeptember 28, 2026

Barnabas Aid reported on September 28, 2026 that seven Christians were arrested in three separate incidents in Madhya Pradesh, all under the state's anti-conversion law and after complaints from extremist groups.

The three cases

September 24: three pastors were arrested after accusations made by protesters.
September 27, Betul district: a mob attacked a worship service, and two pastors were arrested for "unlawful conversion."
September 27, Rewa district: two people were arrested during a prayer meeting, on the same charge.

The law prohibits conversions obtained "through force or coercion." According to Barnabas Aid, extremists often read it as if it banned any conversion from Hinduism, or even any evangelism, and use the police to enforce that reading. Thirteen Indian states have similar laws.

Why it matters

One complaint and a crowd are enough to turn praying or preaching into a crime. Because arrest usually comes before any evidence, families and churches suffer for weeks even when the charge does not hold.

Pray for the seven detainees and their families, for peace, a fair defense and swift release; and for the police and judges, that they will examine the facts before accusing.

Prayer focus

Source: Barnabas Aid, September 28, 2026 — read the original article.

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