09/13/2014, 00.00
INDIA
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Bihar, four people arrested for "forcing" Dalit to convert to Islam

by Nirmala Carvalho
Complaint lodged by victim’s wife. The latter, however, said that he became Muslim by choice. Christian leader warns: "If forced conversions are perpetrated by Hindu radicals they are considered 'a homecoming."

Mumbai (AsiaNews) - The Bihar Police have arrested four people accused of forcing a Dalit family to convert to Islam. A complaint was lodged by Yasoda Devi, resident of the village of Rampur Khurd, against seven people. In the First Information Report (FIR), the woman said that some villagers forcibly converted her husband, Rajkishore Ram, and that he had received death threats if she failed to embrace Islam.

The arrest took place on 11 September, but the situation is still unclear. Questioned by police, the husband claimed he had converted of his own free will.

According to Sajan George, president of the Global Council of Indian Christians (GCIC), in the Indian states where elections are approaching " a precise pattern is emerging, according to which the Hindu radicals have begun to demonize the minority communities. When elements of 'Hindutva are involved in forced conversions, these are considered 'homecomings'. "

However, he told AsiaNews, "this dichotomy is a cause of deep concern. If a Dalit choose to accept another religion of his choice, who has the right to stop them? The GCIC condemns all forms of forced conversion, but calls for action by the authorities to stop the atrocities used to intimidate the

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