Church leaders and members of the Christian community in Belgaum and surrounding areas staged a protest on Thursday, demanding the repeal of the Karnataka Religious Freedom Rights Protection Act, 2022. The demonstration was led by Bishop Derek Fernandes, who headed a rally from the Methodist Church to the District Collector’s office, where a memorandum was submitted to District Collector Mohammed Roshan.
Bishop Fernandes called for a comprehensive policy to protect citizens from hate speeches, activities, crimes, and divisive politics. He argued that the 2022 Act negatively impacts the rights of religious minorities, particularly Christians and Muslims. Citing Article 25 of the Constitution, which guarantees the freedom of conscience and the right to profess, practice, and propagate religion, the representatives insisted that unnecessary restrictions should not be imposed on these fundamental rights.
The protesters highlighted specific provisions of the law, noting that Sections 8 and 9 mandate declarations before and after conversion, while Section 10 deals with punishment and Section 11 places the burden of proof on the accused. They demanded a review of the constitutionality of these sections and argued that allowing third parties to file complaints against individuals who convert undermines personal liberty. The group maintained that existing laws are sufficient to prevent conversions carried out through force, fraud, or allurement. Finally, they urged that the issue be included in the agenda of the Belgaum Legislative Assembly session to take steps toward repealing the Act.
