After someone posted a video online of Pastor Keshab Raj Acharya praying against the spread of coronavirus in 2020, police arrested him for spreading misinformation about the virus, claiming that he told people they would be immune to it if they converted to Christianity. Investigations revealed other videos recording baptisms of new Christian converts, which further riled authorities. Eventually, the charges included “outraging religious sentiment,” proselytizing and other violations of anti-conversion laws. After three years of legal proceedings and appeals to the highest court in Nepal, Pastor Keshab’s sentence of one year in prison has been upheld. He is currently awaiting the warrant that will be issued for his incarceration. Pray that Pastor Keshab will not be imprisoned and that no false claims would be issued against him.
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