Political instability led to increased violence and pressure against Christians.
bottom“Protestors were all over the lanes, shouting slogans against the government. Things were burned on the roads; the smoke could be seen rising to the sky from different areas.”
– Kumar*, Open Doors local partner in Nepal
*Name changed for security purposes
In Nepal, most persecution is driven by Hindu extremists. They believe that all Nepali people should be Hindu and that Nepal should return to being an officially Hindu country. These groups have close ties to other Hindu extremists in neighbouring India. Anti-conversion laws have hindered the church’s growth in Nepal; it can be very risky to convert from Hinduism to Christianity. Along with extremists, family and community can also increase pressure against Christians.
Last year saw massive protests that resulted in the resignation of Nepal’s prime minister. The political instability provided cover for an uptick in violence and pressure against Christians. While an interim government has been established, elections set for March 2026 may determine the near future of Nepal. The country’s religious minorities live in an uncertain environment as they wait to see what will happen.
Some Hindu radical groups used the instability to target religious minorities. There were reports of churches being attacked and Christians beaten, arrested, and sentenced to prison. This rise in violence is why Nepal is back in the World Watch List’s top 50 after a three-year absence.
Converts from Hinduism are the most vulnerable, with pressure coming from local government, Hindu extremists, and families. Christian converts are viewed as those who have left the traditional faith of Nepal and betrayed Nepali identity. Members of Evangelical and Pentecostal churches may also be targeted. Church leaders can be beaten, threatened, and falsely accused. In state institutions, Christians are pressured to join Hindu rituals or face discrimination. Persecution is most severe in rural areas.
– That God protects and sustains believers who have converted from Hinduism.
– That political stability will return and for the right of all Nepali people to worship freely.
– That God would change the hearts of Hindu extremists who target believers in Nepal.
Open Doors works through local partners in Nepal to distribute Bibles and Christian literature, and provide holistic and biblical training. They also give socio-economic aid and provide emergency help for believers in need.
