Gospel for Asia missionary held in India on forced conversion charges

A Gospel for Asia missionary remains in custody in India after being arrested on charges of forced conversion.

Yashpal Bhuta Masih was arrested after three people in his village in Madhya Pradesh accused him of offering education, money and jobs if they converted to Christianity.

GFA has denied the charges, insisting that they "do not use such tactics to share the Gospel".

Yashpal remains in custody despite the efforts and prayers of local church leaders to bring about his release.

GFA is appealing to Christians to pray that justice will be done and "that the Lord will grant Yashpal the strength to endure this trial and for comfort for his wife and children while he is being held".

GFA added that Madhya Pradesh is one of seven states in India to have passed "draconian" anti–conversion laws.

Anyone charged with unethical or unregistered religious conversions is not entitled to bail and could be imprisoned for up to four years.

Church leaders have been pleading with the government and political heads to anul the anti-conversion laws, which they say have been misused by Hindu radicals to persecute Christian missionaries.

Tamil Nadu was the last state to repeal the anti-conversion law, which it had enacted in October 2002.