Nepali Pastor Sentenced to Prison for Proselytizing

 

A pastor in Nepal has been found guilty of proselytizing and sentenced to prison. Rev. Keshav Raj Acharya (35 years old) of the Abundant Harvest Church in Pokhara, Nepal, was arrested and taken to jail after being convicted of proselytizing. Nepal's Supreme Court rejected the defendant's appeal and upheld the one-year imprisonment and fine imposed by the High Court despite the lack of witnesses to the proselytizing activities.

 

The following text is a summarized translation of an article by Hannah Mitchell, a reporter for Christian Today India, dated October 31, 2023.

 

Keshav Acharya's wife, Junu Acharya, told Christian Today (India), "We expected to win in the Supreme Court, but this verdict came as a shock to us. We still cannot understand the reasons for this verdict."

 

Nepal's Supreme Court rejected Acharya's appeal on October 6, 2023, and maintained the one-year imprisonment sentence handed down by the High Court on July 13, 2023.

 

Rev. Keshav Acharya stated, "The Supreme Court did not even look at the inquiry documents and denied our request. They simply rejected our appeal without even reviewing the case. It took them 2-3 minutes to reject the case," expressing disappointment.

 

The Dolpa District Court had initially sentenced Pastor Acharya to two years in prison and a fine of approximately 22,244 Nepalese Rupees (about $167) on November 30, 2021. However, in the High Court, this verdict was appealed, which reduced the sentence to one year.

 

Junu, Acharya's wife, firmly believes in her husband's innocence, stating, "He did not force anyone to convert to Christianity." She argued that her husband's prosecution was a deliberate and discriminatory effort by the government to suppress the spread of faith within Nepal's Christian community. She emphasized that Hindu extremists think that the growth of Christianity in Nepal threatens them.

 

The court found Acharya guilty without concrete evidence, relying on the testimony of a single unreliable witness. There were no other witnesses to corroborate the prosecutor's claims.

 

Mrs. Junu said, "That witness stated that Keshav distributed pamphlets to read and dispose of, and he had nothing to do with proselytizing. This witness's testimony is still in the court records."

 

June and Rev. Acharya have been ministering in the church for nine years and have two sons, aged five and four.

 

Rev. Acharya's ordeal began when he was arrested at his home in Pokhara, Nepal, on March 23, 2020, following the release of a YouTube video showing him providing spiritual guidance on the novel coronavirus during a church service. The spread of a false claim that "Christians do not get infected with COVID" was attributed to him, though his wife, Junu, clarified that he had never made such a statement.

 

On April 8, 2020, the Kaski District Administration Office demanded a bail of approximately 5,000 Nepalese Rupees (about $41) from Rev. Acharya, but his release did not materialize. He was arrested again on charges of inciting "religious sentiments" and "proselytizing."

 

The court increased the bail amount significantly during this time. The court charged a bail of 500,000 Nepalese Rupees (approximately $4,084) on April 19, 2020. He paid the bail on May 13, 2020, but was arrested again in court. Nepal transferred him to a prison in the distant Dolpa District.

 

The Dolpa District Attorney's Office charged Acharya on May 21, 2020, citing sections 158(1) and 158(2) of Nepal's Penal Code. These provisions prohibit forcing someone to convert to another religion and deliberately damaging one's religion with the intent to convert others.

 

Despite obtaining bail, the court required Rev. Acharya to attend court three times a month to fulfill official obligations. His wife expressed that this process was financially burdensome and physically demanding.

 

Dolpa District, located in the Karnali region of Nepal, is an isolated area bordering Tibet. Access is difficult due to the lack of direct roads to other regions. Travelers must use motorcycles, bicycles, or, under harsh weather conditions, walk for up to three days.

 

Joseph Jansen, a spokesperson for the organization "Voice for Justice," stated, "Forcing someone to change their faith through threats or coercion is illegal and inappropriate. However, Pastor Keshav Acharya did not compel anyone to convert to Christianity. He exercised his religious freedom and committed no crime. Regrettably, Nepal's anti-conversion laws are being interpreted and enforced as an insult."

 

Since 2018, violence and false accusations have plagued Nepal's Christian community, which has faced criticism for criminalizing conversion, infringing on the fundamental freedom of religion and faith.

 

REFORMANDA and BREATV (BREAD UNIVERSITY) aim to provide financial assistance for Keshav Acharya's living expenses while in prison and for his wife Junu and their two young children. Anyone willing to contribute can leave a message at choicollege@naver.com or text 010-3661-2230.

 

BREADTV