Religion in Asia: Women's Rights and Religious Conversion Laws in India
- When
- Thursday, November 12, 202612:45 PM – 1:45 PM ESTAdd to calendarGoogle Calendar
- Where
- Elliott School of International Affairs Chung-Wen Shih Asian Studies Conference Room, Suite 5031957 E Street NWOpen in Maps
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About
In India, Hindu nationalists are curtailing women's rights through accusations that Muslim men are engaged in "love jihad"--a conspiracy to convert women into Muslims by seduction. The new laws in various Indian states penalize interfaith marriage between Muslims or Christians and Hindus. Some states require notifying the government of religious conversion 60 to 90 days in advance. Other regulations assume that marriage with a woman or minority community member who has converted is under coercion. These laws allow family members to file complaints about voluntary marriages, leading to arrests and government harassment.
These laws assume that women have no agency and are only involved in interfaith marriage because they have been manipulated. Many families are willing to use the new laws to stop their daughters from entering a marriage that hasn't been family approved. This discussion will look at the new laws and how they are being implemented to restrict women's rights in India.