The Baptist World Alliance is among numerous Christian bodies around the world which has voiced protests over proposals to introduce a new law in the South American nation of Bolivia which they say could make evangelism illegal and put those that do so at risk of prosecution and imprisonment.
In a letter to Bolivian law-makers, Elijah Brown, general secretary of the BWA expressed his concerns that “the ambiguity of these laws could lead to unintended restrictions on religious freedom and to the direct persecution of churches and individuals of faith”.
He said his concerns were not merely for Baptists but “but for all who might find themselves unable to live according to the dictates of their conscience”.
According to a translation from the news website Evangelical Focus, article 88.1 of the new Penal Code of Bolivia states: “Whoever recruits, transports, deprives of freedom or hosts people with the aim of recruiting them to take part in armed conflicts or religious or worship organizations will be penalised 7 to 12 years of imprisonment”.
The news organisation quotes the National Association of Evangelicals in Bolivia saying that the new law could become a form of “state abuse” against Christians.
“We express our most resolute rejection of the inclusion of our ministerial activities in the list of possible conducts that go against the law,” says a statement from ANDEB. “The legislator forgets that the evangelical Christian churches in Bolivia are religious organisations recognised by the Bolivian state, and, therefore, legal entities”.
Protests have already been taking place over the new law and evangelical churches in Bolivia were holding a special day of prayer and fasting on the issue on Sunday.
