Religious freedom rising in Nepal

#979 for broadcast on 2CH Sydney, 19 Oct 2014.

According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Nepal’s Prime Minister, Sushil Koirala, has guarantee religious freedom in the forthcoming constitution, a pledge included in a message to Muslims and people of other faiths on October 6.

Concerns had been expressed about a proposed anti-conversion clause in the new constitution that “fails to allow choosing and changing one’s faith to be seen as a positive individual choice.”

There were also calls by prominent political leaders in recent months for a constitutional ban on all religious conversions.

Nepal was the only officially Hindu Kingdom in the world. But after a decade-long conflict, Nepal became a secular republic in 2008. In the past six years it has so far failed to create the new Constitution required by the peace agreement which ended the military conflict. In a world where freedom seems increasingly rare, let’s hope and pray Nepal gets it right and the people of Nepal experience greater freedom.

I’m Rod Benson for the NSW Council of Churches.