Uttar Pradesh Assembly Passes Stricter Anti-Conversion Law

On July 30, 2024, the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly passed a stricter amendment to the Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, originally enacted in 2021. The amendment increases penalties for illegal religious conversions, particularly targeting minors, Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and other vulnerable groups. It also broadens the scope for third-party complaints, which critics fear could lead to misuse. The law is part of a broader trend in BJP-led states since 2017 to combat concerns over religious conversions, but it raises concerns about potential legal abuses and communal tensions.