The Ministry of Home Affairs has instructed all 77 district administration offices to rein in religious conversion and asked them to track the movement of foreign nationals inside the country without permits. The ministry sent a circular to the district offices on April 7.

According to the ministry, various individuals and organisations are holding religious conferences and orientation programmes in the districts in the name of promoting religion and religious conversion. Foreign nationals who participated in such events are also illegally involved in promoting religion and religious conversion. The Post has obtained a copy of the circular.

Some complaints were registered at the ministry that some foreigners were involved in religious activities in Nepal after coming here for various purposes, said Narayan Prasad Bhattarai, the home ministry spokesperson. Any activity done against the law of the land is punishable, he added.

Some pro-Hindu groups and individuals were concerned about the growing cases of forced conversion in Nepal from Hinduism to other religions, a senior home ministry official said. “Since it is the job of the state to protect the constitution, we, despite the secular nature of the country, sent a circular to stop such illegal activities.”

Security agencies and semi-government organisations and agencies have regularly reported to the home ministry and local administrative offices that forced conversion has become rampant, often with the involvement of foreigners who take visa for one purpose and indulge in such activities. Some elements are also trying to disturb social and religious harmony in some districts adjoining India in recent days, the home ministry official said. “Our objective is to check all kinds of illegal religious activities happening in any part of the country.”

According to Article 26 of the constitution, every person who has faith in religion has the freedom to profess, practise and protect his or her religion in accordance with his or her conviction. On the contrary, Article 26 (3) of the constitution stops anyone from indulging in forced conversation. No person shall, in the exercise of the right conferred by this Article (26), do, or cause to be done, any act which may be contrary to public health, decency and morality or breach of public peace, or convert another person from one religion to another or any act or conduct that may jeopardise other's religion and such act shall be punishable by law, states the constitution.

Forced conversion is a challenge, the official said. Due to some of the recent religious activities in some districts of the southern plains, there has been a strife between two religious communities. After conflict between Hindu and Muslim communities, curfew was imposed in some parts of Sunsari district.

In the circular, the ministry also asked all district administration offices to closely monitor foreign nationals who travel without permission and take action.

“We are just performing the constitutional duty of the country,” said Bhattarai. “The constitution of Nepal does not permit anyone’s forced conversion and it also prohibits foreigners to indulge in religious activities, to impart religion-related training and be involved in forced conversation.”