Concerns over ban on prayers for healing in India

Christians have criticised a controversial bill within the Indian state of Assam that bans prayers for healing. 

The Assam Healing (Prevention of Evil) Practices Bill, 2024, threatens individuals who conduct so-called “magical healing” with harsh fines and even imprisonment, Crux reports.

It makes “inhuman, evil, or magical healing practices” illegal and offenders withstand five years in prison or a maximum effective of 100,000 rupees (around £950). 

According to Crux, the Chief Minister of Assam said the bill was “a very important milestone” in efforts to “curb evangelism in Assam”. 

The bill was passed on February 26 and can must be ratified by India’s president Droupadi Murmu before it comes into force. 

Local Christians fear that it’s a precursor to the introduction of anti-conversion laws which have been utilized in other states to crackdown on Christians. 

John Moolachira of Guwahati Archdiocese and president of the Assam Christian Forum shared his disbelief in regards to the bill in comments to India’s The Print.

“We don’t simply go around healing — it is an element of our prayer. We have healing prayers like every other religion — when sick people come, we pray for them — individually, or by making them stand together in a bunch. We don’t do magic to heal people. Why is the federal government making it illegal and punishable is what we do not understand,” he said. 

In a statement, The Assam Christian Forum said: “Healing, in our context, will not be synonymous with proselytization. It is a compassionate response to human suffering, irrespective of non secular affiliations.”

A locally-based partner of the Christian charity Open Doors said the bill puts mission employees and the Christian community in danger.

“It provides the religious groups a possibility to generate false allegations against Christians and their institutions. The bill specifically targets the Christian community in Assam,” she said. 

She expressed fears that violence against Christians in nearby Manipur will spill over into Assam. 

“Please pray for the northeastern states in India, they were once a haven for Christians. They are actually endangered with constant news of violence,” she said.