Eight Christian counselors in Nepal will go on trial for proselytizing — which is against the country’s new constitution, Christian Today reports. This trial is the first religious freedom case in Nepal since its new constitution was implemented in 2015.
The seven men and one woman were arrested on June 9 after distributing a pamphlet about Jesus in a Christian school. They were helping children through trauma following last year’s earthquake in Nepal.
The counselors were working for Teach Nepal. Barnabas Shrestha, chairman of Teach Nepal, says they were “invited by a pastor to do the counselling in the school”. While it is a Christian school, not all pupils are Christians.
Shrestha denies the counsellors were trying to convert children. The police making the arrests “wanted our people to say yes, they have preached the Gospel …which is not true”.
According to Christian Daily, Christians are increasingly being persecuted in Nepal. A missionary in Nepal disclosed that the government announced to all leaders of Christian orphanages and boarding schools in Kathmandu that it would close them down, impose large fines and confiscate possessions if just one Christian booklet was found in their institution.
The trial of the eight Christian counselors is expected to be held on July 23.
Sources:
Christiantodaycom. (2016). Christiantodaycom. http://www.christiantoday.com/article/nepal.eight.christians.to.go.on.trial.for.proselytising/91068.htm
Worldwatchmonitororg. (2016). World Watch Monitor. https://www.worldwatchmonitor.org/2016/07/4559343/
Christiandailycom. (2016). Christiandailycom. http://christiandaily.com/article/8-christian-counselors-in-nepal-go-on-trial-for-proselytizing/54392.htm
