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.
2025 saw massive demonstrations 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 at the time of printing, there is an established interim government, elections are set for March 2026. The outcome of these 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.
Huge protests in Nepal led to the collapse of the government and the resignation of the prime minister. 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 top 50 of the World Watch List after a three-year absence.
Converts from Hinduism are far and away 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. By and large, persecution is most severe in rural areas.
“Protesting people were all over the lanes, shouting slogans against the government. In many places, things were burned on the roads; the smoke could be seen rising to the sky from different areas. We could see smoke from all sides.”
- Open Doors partner 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.
Believers who have converted from Hinduism can be targeted by their families, their community and their local government. Ask God to protect and sustain them.
Political instability has created an environment where Hindu extremists can attack Christians without fear of consequences. Pray that stability would return, and that God would help new leadership to recognise the right of all Nepali people to worship freely.
Pray that God would change the hearts of Hindu extremists who target believers in Nepal. Ask Him to overturn unjust laws used against Christians, and that His hope and joy would be visible to all people in Nepal.
