INDIA: MADHYA PRADESH PLANS TO IMPOSE DEATH PENALTY FOR THE RELIGIOUS CONVERSION OF GIRLS

March 11, 2025:

Madhya Pradesh chief minister Mohan Yadav said on March 8, 2025 that his govt would amend the law to provide for death penalty for forced religious conversion of girls.
"After the provision of death penalty for rape of girls, now a provision for death penalty will be made in Madhya Pradesh for those who convert girls," CM Yadav said at an event in Bhopal on International Women's Day.
The CM said this provision would be made in the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act.
However, once the announcement hit national headlines, chief minister's office (CMO) issued a statement, saying, "Religious Freedom Act is in force...to take strict action against those who forcefully (sic) or by luring people to marry... convert their religion (sic)."
The CM said his govt would take the strictest action against those who rape girls. "The culprits will also be given the death penalty. No culprit will be spared under any circumstances," it said.
The budget session of the MP assembly starts on March 10.
Going by the CM's speech, govt plans to amend Freedom of Religion Act, 2021 to incorporate death penalty clause.
MP was the first state to bring a law against forced conversion.
If the CM's intent is carried through, it will be the first to have death penalty for this offence. In Dec 2017, the state had passed a bill awarding death to those found guilty of raping girls aged 12 and below, again, the first state to do so. However, capital punishment for this offence has not been executed so far.
At the Women's Day event, the CM said: "Govt is tough in cases of rape of minors. There is provision for death penalty for it. Our government will not spare those who forcefully or fraudulently outrage their modesty. Similarly, those who carry out religious conversion will get capital punishment. A provision will be made under the Madhya Pradesh Freedom of Religion Act for it. Govt is making arrangements for it. Govt is committed to act tough against rape with minors, conversion. "
The state has implemented the Religious Freedom Act, which prescribes strict punishments for offenders, and is working continuously to strengthen and enforce this law. Govt said in a post on social media that CM Yadav has stated that forced, fraudulent, or deceitful marriages and religious conversions will not be tolerated in MP. The state has implemented the Religious Freedom Act, which prescribes strict punishments for offenders, and is working continuouslyto strengthen and enforce this law. Yadav emphasised that ensuring the safety of daughters is the govt's foremost responsibility. "
Several significant schemes are being implemented for women's empowerment, enabling them to become selfreliant and ensuring that they do not face any form of injustice. Government is taking all necessary steps to uphold the dignity, self-respect, and rights of daughters in the state," government stated.