Pastor in Nepal accused of spreading misinformation for saying God has power over coronavirus

Sunday, March 29, 2020

(Worthy News) - A pastor in Nepal was thrown into prison for exercising his God-given authority over coronavirus after police disguised themselves as Christians in need of healing prayer.

Keshab Acharya, 32, can be seen in a video that has circulated on social media identifying the virus' spiritual origin and invoking "the power of the ruler of this Creation," saying "I rebuke you…By the power in the name of Lord Jesus Christ, corona, go away and die.”

Junu Acharya, the pastor's wife, explained to Morning Star News that a phone call they received from a man with a sick wife asking for prayer led to a visit at their home by four police officers who claimed to want the same ministry.

The officers, however, soon revealed that they intended to bring Acharya up on charges for the video in which he rebukes the virus, accusing him of spreading the misinformation that God has any sway over the medical emergency.

Nepal, 32nd on Open Doors USA's World Watch List, passed a constitution in 2015 "secularizing" the country and appearing to grant rights of religious freedom while nevertheless only protecting Hinduism, and outright forbidding conversions from one religion to another.