Pastor in Nepal Arrested for Praying Against COVID-19 Virus

And what is so bad about praying that the a Coronavirus going away?

03/29/2020 Nepal (International Christian Concern) – According to Morning Star News, a Christian pastor in Nepal has been arrested for praying against the COVID-19 virus on a video that has circulated on social media. The pastor, who was taken into custody on March 23, could face up to six months in prison after being wrongly accused of giving false information about COVID-19.

In a video translated by Morning Star News, Pastor Keshab Acharya prayed in front of his church congregation, saying, “Hey, corona – you go and die. May all your deeds be destroyed by the power of the Lord Jesus. I rebuke you, corona, in the name of Lord Jesus Christ. By the power or the ruler of this Creation, I rebuke you… By the power in the name of Lord Jesus Christ, corona, go away and die.”

According to Junu Acharya, Pastor Acharya’s wife, her husband received a call on March 23 at about 8 p.m. from an unknown man requesting prayer for his sick wife. Pastor Acharya invited the man to come to their house for prayer. However, when there was a knock at the door, four police officers entered the home, surrounded Pastor Acharya, arrested him, and took him to the police station.

Christian leaders in Nepal have spoken out against the arrest of Pastor Acharya. Pastor Mukunda Sharma, Executive Secretary of the Nepal Christian Society, told Morning Star News that he had urged the District Superintendent of Police to act fairly and not implicate Pastor Acharya in any criminal charges.

“I told [the District Superintendent] that the police cannot prosecute the pastor for exercising his faith and that it is a gross violation of human rights,” Pastor Sharma told Morning Star News. “He assured me that the pastor was taken into custody only for an inquiry(Keep reading).”

Church Destroyed While 500 Gather for Prayer Inside

07/23/2012 Nepal (AsiaNews)- The incident occurred on July 21. In the building there were about 500 people in prayer. Demolished only the outer walls, but there are also damages the inside of the building. To ease traffic congestion, Kathmandu authorities have demolished the exterior walls of the largest and oldest Protestant church in the capital, also damaging the interior. The destruction took place on July 21 at 5 am and continued until the beginning of Sunday service, ignoring the 500 people already gathered in prayer in the church. Several private buildings were also destroyed, despite the inhabitants' protests. To avoid clashes with residents, the city administration deployed hundreds of police in front of the church and the houses to be demolished.

Protestant Christian Rajan Rai, accuses the government of the city of considering places of worship equal to a normal building, regardless of their spiritual and historical significance. "The authorities have no respect for religious sensibilities - he stresses - and ignore the importance of faith for us."

The case has created tensions between the Kathmandu Metropolitan Development Authority (Kmda), in charge of the project, and the leaders of the local Protestant church, who to date have not made any comments, but according to local sources will denounce the abuse in court.

Keshav Sthapit, Kmda management, defends the actions of public administration: "We have done our job without bias. The expansion of the road system has affected many religious and public buildings. In recent months, were also destroyed Hindu temples, foreign diplomatic offices and many private homes. " The official said that authorities have opened an inquiry into the disputed building and in the event of irregularities in the operations will provide to pay damages(Source).

Nepal: Men Threatening to Murder and Kidnap Pastors Arrested

07/04/2012 Nepal (TheHimalayan)- Detectives have nabbed two members of an extortion racket that had stirred a wave of panic amongst Christians in the Valley. Police said Tamang and Pariyar had repeatedly threatened to blow up the church and finish off his family if Thapa did not pay the extortion amount of Rs 2 million.

The duo had also demanded extortion money from Devi Prasad Bhujel, pastor of Khumaltar Church and threatened him for refusing to meet their demand. They had threatened to detonate a bomb and kidnap many more pastors of Valley-based churches to serve their purpose.

“They had made the Christian community panic through bombing, kidnapping and death threats. However, timely response leading to their arrest has thwarted any untoward incident,” an investigator said. Harried by threats of ‘serious consequences’ in the event of failure to meet their demands, the victims had turned to police for their physical and institutional security(Source).

Nepali Christian sends encouraging message to Iranian and Afghan Christians

We Americans need this type of encouragement as well. I pray that my Iranian and Afghani brethren in Christ Jesus stay strong too.

1/12/2012 Iran (Mohabat News) – Below you read an encouraging interview with Jason, a Nepali Christian who explains about the situation of Christians in his homeland. The interview is exclusively conducted to encourage Iranian and Afghan Christians. An American Christian minister, who follows the news and events of Iranian Christians through Mohabat News website and voluntarily collaborates with this news agency, conducted an interview with a Nepali Christian who currently resides in United States. He sent the interview to Mohabat News and it was directly translated into Farsi for Farsi-speaking users of Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan.

"Here is an article to encourage the saints in Iran and Afghanistan."

He wrote in his foreword to the interview. Then he continued, "I interviewed one of my neighbor's, named Jason, who was raised in Nepal. Jason is a very bright kid currently in college studying pharmacy, and he knows quite a bit from the Bible and loves Jesus very much."

Nepal is a country located at north of India. The majority in the country is Hindu. Christians only form half a percent of the population. Below you read the short interview regarding the situation of Nepali Christians:
Could you tell me about persecuted Christians in Nepal?

Well, I think it is better now – but years back, I think people were more persecuted for being Christian. Especially in the hill areas... if a person accepts Christ there, their family may kick them out of the house, charging that they are not fulfilling their ancestral traditions.

Were you or anyone in your family persecuted for your faith? In our case, no, because we all came to Christ at the same time, about 15 years ago. But if a person in Nepal is the first in their family to believe in Jesus, or the 2nd or 3rd, it will be a lot harder for them. Especially if their family is Brahman (Hindu in the highest caste), the first one to accept Christ may be kicked out of their homes, and told that they aren't even allowed to eat their own family's food.

It can be hard for the first ones in a family to believe in Jesus, but in time - many other family members start to believe. That's one thing I can tell you about the Nepali people: they will not love someone until they know them. But then, when they know you, they will love you – till you die. Many people in Nepal are coming to The Lord now, and the reason why is because of the miraculous healings God is doing in Nepal – by The God's Spirit moving. We have prayed for a long time.

Is there anything you'd like to say to encourage persecuted Christians in Iran and Afghanistan?
You don't belong to this world – you are Heaven's citizens. And we know that unbelievers are not persecuting you: they are persecuting Him. Pray, and have patience. Many 1000's and millions will turn to Jesus. We are praying for the whole world! One day, as Revelation says, God will wipe away every tear from our eyes. And I heard how in China, a person would not be given a whole Bible, but just one page from the Bible; they would study it, and then pass it on to the next believer. And now, there are more Christians in China than anywhere else in the world!

We encourage you, our dear brothers and sisters in Iran and Afghanistan: keep loving, following, believing in, and serving The Lord Jesus Christ! May God Most High protect, strengthen, and encourage you - filling you with boldness from His Holy Spirit as you live your lives to honor The Lord Jesus Christ! May God send forth more laborers to Iran and Afghanistan, and open the eyes of the lost as He convicts them of their sin of not believing in Jesus. May your nations see salvation and revival from The True and Living God! You are dearly loved, and you are not forgotten! We love and remember you; how much more does The Glorious Lord! The grace of The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit(Source).

Nepal: Christians Forced Out Of Their Village For Believing In “Foreign Religion”

01/02/2011 Nepal (MNN) - A strong Buddhist population in Nepal recently rose against a group of Christians and drove them out of their village with their pastor. According to the Voice of the Martyrs, Canada, the Nepali pastor was accused of bringing a foreign religion into the village and teaching ideals that were offensive to society. Attackers also accused Christians of bribing and coercing other villagers into converting, an act frowned upon by society.

While the anti-conversion laws are not officially in effect in Nepal, anti-conversion law language has been used by the Nepali government in their ongoing process of drafting a constitution. On top of forcing Christians out of their village, one member of the opposition reportedly sexually abused the six-year-old daughter of a Christian family. A worker with the Voice of the Martyrs helped the believers resettle in another village and prayed with the family of the assaulted six-year-old girl.

Nepali Christians only make up 2.8% of the population. Over 75% of the population is Hindu which, up until 2006, was the official religion of the country. While persecution is not as common as it used to be in the 1990s, it is still a major issue for believers there. Attacks against Christians are especially frequent when one converts from the Hindu or Buddhist faith.

Nepali Terrorist Experiences Love of Christ in Prison

8/29/11 Nepal (Christian Post) - Ram Prasad Mainali, 39, spearheaded the Nepal Defense Army (NDA), a faction with the interest of re-establishing Nepal as a Hindu nation. The group was responsible for bombing several Christian and Muslim houses of worship in Nepal. In the bombing of the Catholic Assumption Church in 2009, two women and a schoolgirl died. Mainali was arrested and charged with organizing the attack.

Despite being imprisoned at the Kathmandu's Dilli Bazar Prison, Mainali was found to have also organized the bombing of two mosques in southern Nepal, where two men died, as well as the killing of Father John Prakash, a Salesian priest from India.

In 2010, Mainali repented for his actions against religious minorities in Nepal, stating that the compassion that he received from Christians compelled him to begin reading the Bible.
“Although I bombed the church, Christians come to meet me everyday,” he said. “No right wing Hindu has come to meet me even once.”

Now, Mainali and other leaders of the NDA are in negotiations with the Nepali government. The groups are working to have the NDA recognized as a political organization in exchange for the NDA surrendering its arms. If an agreement is made between the groups, members of the NDA who are currently in prison will be released, including Mainali.

Nepali Christians and Muslims are skeptical that the actions would be in the best interest of religious minorities in the country(Source).

Nepal’s Churches Fight for Legal Recognition and Equal Rights

My brethren in Christ here in Nepal are serious about getting their religious freedom. However, it comes to no surprise to me that they are the most ignored out of all religious groups. I just hope and pray they get the right to worship freely over there.

8/18/11 Nepal (CDN) — Defying pouring rain and flooded streets, over two dozen people have gathered faithfully at the Putalisadak Church in the heart of capital city Kathmandu for the regular Thursday evening Bible study class, bringing a smile of satisfaction on the face of Pastor Dev Kumar Chetri.
 
The smile fades, however, when he talks about the problems that Nepal’s second-oldest church has faced due to government discrimination. Hundreds of other churches scattered through the former Hindu kingdom have faced the same problem.

“As per the old laws, churches were not allowed to register as religious institutions,” said Chari Bahadur Gahatraj, a Protestant pastor. “They functioned either as Non-Governmental Organizations [NGOs] or personal properties. In 2006, when Parliament formally declared Nepal secular, we thought it would change and churches would be recognized as religious institutions.”

Five years later, however, discrimination against Christians continues, Gahatraj said.
 
“We have not even been mentioned in the new policies and programs of the government proposed in Parliament this year,” he said.
   
“When our congregation started growing, in 2006 we started building a bigger hall to accommodate them,” said Pastor Samuel Karthak. “But it was opposed by a neighbor, who went to court. The dispute went up to the Supreme Court before it was resolved. We would have felt so much more secure if the churches had been recognized as religious institutions. However, we are still regarded as second-class citizens, and churches as places that exist only to convert people. We still don’t have a voice.”

Stung by government apathy, Christians this month joined forces with other excluded religious communities like Buddhists and Muslims to begin a campaign seeking an end to religious discrimination.
The campaigners are demanding that the government amend the draft of a new penal code that has triggered widespread controversy and condemnation over the inclusion of clauses that make conversions a punishable offense. Instead, they are asking for a new Religion Act as well as Religion Commission to resolve religious disputes.

For the first time, Christians and other religious minorities are seeking proportional representation in all state organs such as the army, judiciary and civil service on the basis of population. Though Nepal’s new Parliament has 601 seats with the provision that the prime minister should nominate representatives from unrepresented communities, the stipulation has been virtually ignored. Most ignored have been Christians.

Future of Religious Freedom in Nepal Uncertain

I'm praying that my brothers and sisters in Christ in Nepal will get their religious freedom.
8/11/11 Nepal (Anglican Journal) – With less than a month left until the adoption of a new constitution, Nepal's religious minorities – Christians, Muslims and Buddhists – have started a campaign against religious discrimination. The Inter-Religious Secularism Protection Movement (IRSPM) is asking the communist-led coalition government to allow churches, mosques, monasteries and other non-Hindu institutions to be registered as religious bodies and waive the taxes they have to pay as they are still regarded as personal properties.

"The state patronizes four religious trusts, mostly Hindu, which also get financial assistance," said Chari Bahadur Gahatraj, a Protestant pastor and IRSPM spokesman. "When Nepal became secular in 2006, we hoped we too would be entitled to the same benefits. Our churches face litigation and closure because the government still refuses to recognize them as religious institutions."
The campaigners are also asking for a Religion Commission and a Religion Act to protect the rights of all sects, as well as proportional representation for the religious minorities in all state organs, like the army, judiciary and bureaucracy.
"Despite being declared secular, Nepal continues to exclude the religious minorities," added Palsang Vajra Lama, a Buddhist monk and coordinator of the campaign. "For instance, Teej, (a festival, by, for and of women), is still projected as a Hindu festival."

Amidst growing fears that the new constitution, expected to uphold secularism in the former Hindu kingdom, may miss its scheduled Aug. 31  deadline, the campaigners are demanding that the government respect the deadline and recognize the right to religious freedom as a fundamental right in the document. Citizens should have the right to follow any religion they want, convert to another religion if they want, and have the full freedom to preach their own religion, the IRSPM press statement said.

A proposed new civil and penal code has caused concern among the religious minorities as it includes a clause that makes conversions a punishable offense."It is against the spirit of secularism as well as the prevailing interim constitution and should be amended," said Nazrul Hussain Falahi, a Muslim leader and IRSPM's joint coordinator(Source).

At Easter Mass in Kathmandu, thousands remember victims of Hindu extremism

04/28/2011 Nepal (AsiaNews) – More than 1,500 people, including many non-Catholics, took part in Easter celebration in Kathmandu’s Assumption church, which was heavily protected against possible attacks from Hindu extremists. During the Mass, nine boys were baptised.

In his homily, Mgr Anthony Sharma, archbishop of Kathmandu, mentioned the sacrifice of those who died in the terror attack against Kathmandu’s cathedral in 2009 and the murder of Fr John Prakash, killed by Hindu radicals in 2008.

“Jesus sacrificed himself for all humanity. He was never discouraged by any attack against him. Similarly, a few attacks against Catholics won’t discourage our work for we shall serve God with greater energy,” the bishop said.

The victims of persecution have provided Nepal’s small Church an opportunity to make its presence felt around the world, Mgr Sharma explained. This has forced the government to adopt policies to protect religious minorities.

Since the fall of the Hindu monarchy in 2006 and the establishment of a secular state, Nepali Christians have enjoyed greater freedom of worship and expression.
For years, the number of Christians has been steadily rising. Currently, they are estimated to be around two million.