Nepal: Eight Christians face trial for distributing Bibles

Seven Protestant Christians and a pastor could be tried for proselytising after being found distributing Bibles to school-children, Asia News reported.

A trial date has not yet been set but a court is preparing to charge the suspects, according to local sources.

The seven were arrested on 8 June after being caught handing out the Bibles to children at a school in the northern district of Dolakha, which was devastated by last year's major earthquake.

Then, on 14 June police also arrested Rev Shakti Pakhrin over his alleged ties to those under investigation for proselytising.

A few days later the group – which includes two teachers and activists for Teach Nepal, which is involved in post-quake reconstruction – was released but ordered to appear in court.

There have been claims that the group was tortured in custody as well as unjustifiably detained.

The indictment against them is that of distributing Bibles for the purpose of converting students, Asia News said.

The group is reportedly alleged to have violated Article 26, paragraph 3, of the Constitution of Nepal, which regulates religious freedom and states that "no person shall act or make others act in a manner which is contrary to public health, decency and morality, or...convert a person of one religion to another religion".

The group rejects the accusations and claims to have only distributed the materials to Christian children who asked for them. "We only gave it to them," said Prakash Pradhan, principal of Mount Valley Academy, a local private school.

The Federation of National Christian Nepal submitted a memorandum of defence to the Home Affairs Minister Shakti Bahadur Basnet, calling for the accused to be released immediately. "Accusations against them are false and designed to create fear among other Christians," he said.

Newsletter Stay up to date with Christian Today
related articles
Why does Nepal have one of the fastest growing Churches in the world?
Why does Nepal have one of the fastest growing Churches in the world?

Why does Nepal have one of the fastest growing Churches in the world?

Nepal earthquake: Mourning and protests mark the one year anniversary

Nepal earthquake: Mourning and protests mark the one year anniversary

Christians and Hindus work together after devastating Nepal earthquake: \'God is able to work in such a crisis as this\'
Christians and Hindus work together after devastating Nepal earthquake: 'God is able to work in such a crisis as this'

Christians and Hindus work together after devastating Nepal earthquake: 'God is able to work in such a crisis as this'

News
The media mandate: How wise use of communication can strengthen the Christian church
The media mandate: How wise use of communication can strengthen the Christian church

As the Church tries to make sense of AI and all the media tools at its disposal, it must ask not merely what gains attention, but what honours Christ, writes Duncan Williams.

Church of Scotland to consider apology for alleged slavery links
Church of Scotland to consider apology for alleged slavery links

The Church of Scotland’s General Assembly will next month consider a report detailing historic links to the transatlantic slave trade and proposals for an official institutional apology.

Flying the flag – act of defiance or plea for help?
Flying the flag – act of defiance or plea for help?

Left to themselves, the English are notoriously slow to make any kind of public display, so in trying to understand what’s really going on here, perhaps we should ask why people have felt moved to behave in so ‘unBritish’ a way?

Pope Leo XIV listed among Time’s 2026 100 most influential people
Pope Leo XIV listed among Time’s 2026 100 most influential people

Pope Leo XIV has been included in Time magazine’s annual list of the 100 most influential people in the world, marking another milestone in the early months of his historic papacy.