By Our Reporter
The arrest of 34 foreign nationals recently within 20 days has brought renewed attention to a problem that authorities have struggled to contain for years. Foreign organisations and individuals allegedly have been using health camps, child care homes and education programmes to promote religious conversion.
The cases raise serious questions about how such activities have continued despite legal restrictions, and why vulnerable communities remain exposed to them.
Poverty and weak access to public services create conditions in which people can be persuaded through promises of medical care, education, financial assistance or support for their children. For families struggling to meet basic needs, these offers can carry considerable weight. When assistance is linked to religious instruction or pressure to adopt another faith, the relationship becomes exploitative.
The recent arrests in Morang show how difficult it can be to distinguish genuine humanitarian work from activities that may have a religious agenda. Ten foreign nationals were arrested during a health camp organised by Mercy Development. A separate case involved 24 South Koreans accused of promoting Christianity at Nepal New Covenant College. Earlier investigations also raised questions about foreign funded child care homes and programmes targeting economically disadvantaged children.
Who is behind these activities? The available cases point to a network of foreign individuals, religious organisations and local partner groups. Some have entered Nepal on tourist visas, while others have operated through organisations registered or working in the country. Investigations and the Auditor General’s reports have identified concerns involving Mercy Mission Himalayas, Tearfund, Nepal Christian Child Education Organisation and other groups.
The Auditor General’s findings deserve particular scrutiny. Mercy Mission Himalayas reportedly conducted Bible training for 10 people and mobile training for 300 pastors. A Tearfund project agreement with a local partner reportedly included a commitment to recruit Christian employees. Witness Society also ran a programme worth Rs 264.34 million across 11 districts. These details warrant transparent investigation into how public approvals, foreign funding and local partnerships were used.
However, allegations against particular organisations should be established through evidence. Humanitarian work by foreign groups should not automatically be treated as religious conversion. Nor should the conduct of some individuals become grounds for suspicion against an entire religious community. The issue is whether aid, education or medical services are being used to influence people’s religious choices.
Nepal’s laws prohibit religious conversion and related activities, while the Foreign Aid Acceptance Directive, 2014, restricts foreign assistance for promoting religious beliefs. Enforcement, however, appears inconsistent. Repeated arrests and warnings suggest that monitoring has often followed complaints rather than prevented violations.
The government must investigate the organisations and individuals named in these cases, examine their funding and local partnerships, and make project approvals conditional on clear safeguards. Immigration authorities should check whether foreign nationals are using tourist visas to conduct activities outside their permitted purpose. The Social Welfare Council should publish investigation findings and follow up on warnings.
Authorities must also protect poor families from inducements and pressure. That requires stronger public health and education services, accessible complaint mechanisms and clear information about the rights of parents and children.
Foreign nationals who deliberately exploit poverty to influence religious choices should face action under the law, including deportation where warranted. Nepal must enforce its rules fairly, with evidence and due process, while protecting every citizen’s freedom of belief.
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