(Photo: Getty/iStock)Church leaders in the Indian state of Rajasthan have said that a proposed anti-conversion law has already lead to increased violence from Hindu nationalists groups. Anti-conversion laws are in place in a number of Indian states, and while theoretically designed to prevent people being coerced into changing their religion, in practice they are used to protect and privilege Hinduism and to persecute Christianity and Islam. The proposed anti-conversion law passed the state assembly on 9 September. “For a number of years now Christians, especially in rural areas, have suffered violent attack for sharing the gospel," he said. "More recently it seems that state-based anti-conversion laws are fuelling Hindu nationalist and extremist groups to increasingly oppose Christians and Christian activity.”