Gujarat Assembly Passes Bill Penalising 'Unlawful' Religious Conversion Through Marriage2Photo© news18.com

Gujarat Assembly Passes Bill Penalising 'Unlawful' Religious Conversion Through Marriage

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The Gujarat Assembly on Thursday passed the Freedom of Religion Act, 2003 amendment Bill that seeks to penalise forcible or fraudulent religious conversion by marriage or “love jihad”, bringing in stringent provisions against forcible conversion through marriage or allurement.

The Bill has provisions for 3-10 years in jail and a fine of up to ₹5 lakh if the accused is found guilty.

The Bill amends a 2003 Act, and seeks to curb the “emerging trend in which women are lured to marriage for the purpose of religious conversion” as per its “statement of object.” The Gujarat Freedom of Religion Act, 2003, deals with religious conversion “through allurement, force or by misrepresentation or by any other fraudulent means”.