Source: Morning Star News, August 8, 2019
A Christian from South Korea arrested in Nepal on charges of “attempting to convert” was released on bail on [August 7], sources said.
Cho Yusang, a 73-year-old evangelical Christian, posted bail of 150,000 Nepalese rupees (US$1,330) after being arrested on July 23. His health deteriorated after he was incarcerated, and he had been hospitalized, said Tanka Subedi, chair of the Religious Liberty Forum Nepal (RLFN).
The charge of “attempting to convert” under the Nepal Penal Code of 2017 calls for as much five years in jail and/or a fine of up to 50,000 Nepalese Rupees (US$445), according to Subedi.
B.P. Khanal, national coordinator of Nepal for the International Panel of Parliamentarians for Freedom of Religion or Belief, told Morning Star News that after arresting Cho from his lakeside lodging, police raided his room and confiscated some Bibles and Christian literature.
Khanal, who is responsible for inter-faith relations for the Nepal Christian Society, said possession of a Bible and Christian literature is not evidence of a crime.
“In this case the law is discriminatory, because it is not an offense to have Bibles in your room,” Khanal told Morning Star News. “The recovery of some Bibles and Christian literature from Yusang’s personal belongings is projeced as an offense and as a crime Yusang committed. Anybody can have a Bible—it is not a drug or an explosive. Carrying a Bible should not be a criminal offense.”
» Full story includes more details and context. Khanal asks foreigners visiting Nepal to refrain from actions that will land them in legal trouble, but commit themselves to equip the local Church to share the gospel.
» For less-sympathetic local coverage of this event, see Three Foreign Tourists Arrested for Proselytizing (myRepublica). The two other foreigners mentioned are Jehovah’s Witnesses from Japan.