by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) - In what appears to be a growing trend of violent hostility toward Christianity in Nepal, seven churches in Lumbini Province were attacked in the last two weeks alone, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports. The population of Nepal is 80.19% Hindu and 1.76% Christian, with numerous other minority religions represented.
The latest anti-Christian attack in Nepal took place at a church in the southern Nawalparasi district of Lumbini, ICC said. This church was one of two in the same town that were vandalized over the weekend.
“Photos and videos reviewed by International Christian Concern (ICC) showed broken windows and other signs of violence around the property, including damage to fencing and a broken motorbike,” ICC said in its report. “Another photo shared on social media showed two men, identified as pastors, being assaulted on the street. Gathered locals appear to have smeared the pastors’ faces with a sticky black substance in an act described by ICC contacts as a cultural sign of hatred and disrespect.”
In a statement to ICC, a Nepalese civil society leader said there has been little or no response from the authorities, which has encouraged the spate of attacks to spread “like wildfire.”
Nepal’s general code provides that “no one shall propagate any religion in such a manner as to undermine the religion of others nor shall cause others to convert his or her religion.” ICC notes that this legislation has been abused to arrest and charge religious minorities with criminal proselytization that carries up to six years imprisonment.