Anti-conversion laws in Uttar Pradesh have led to nearly 400 arrests of Christians over the last three years.

The laws currently apply in 12 of India’s 28 states, with fears they could become national.

Andrew Boyd, of Release International, says laws that aimed to prevent conversion by force have, in effect, opened the gates for increasingly forceful oppression of India’s Christians.

He said the intention is to prevent conversions by force or bribery, but the trouble is “these laws are being imposed by radicals. . . . through very loosely worded legislation, they’re looking at relief aid which has been provided by Christians and saying it’s bribery. They’re looking at talk of heaven and saying that’s bribery, talk of hell – that’s coercion.

“Pretty much any attempt to share your faith in India, where these groups are militant and rising, is being opposed.”

Attacks in the northeastern state of Manipur in India, believed in part to be motivated by anti-Christian hate, cost the lives of 175 people earlier this year.  300 churches were burned down and 60,000 people were driven from their homes.