On the 19th of December, a Korean Christian and three Indian nationals were arrested and charged under the newly enacted Prohibition of Unlawful Religious Conversion Ordinance in Greater Nodia, located in the Gautam Buddh Nagar District of Uttar Pradesh. The four men were arrested while distributing food and other aid to people in need due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

According to the police, a local woman complained that she was approached by the individuals arrested and invited to visit the local church to receive free rations offered during the pandemic. The complainant also reported that the four began visiting her regularly and promised her money if she converted.

The police arrested Mi Kyung Lee, a Korean Christian, Umesh Kumar, and two women helping with the distribution of aid named Seema and Sandhya.

After the arrests, the four appeared in court on the 20th of December and were sent to jail. Police charged them with violating Uttar Pradesh’s new anti-conversion law and committing blasphemy by outraging the religious feelings of others by insulting their religion or religious beliefs.

Source and image: persecution.org