Father Babu Francis, a Catholic priest from Allahabad, India, who had been detained for nearly three months under the controversial "anti-conversion" laws, was released from jail on December 22. The arrest took place on October 1 when Father Francis sought information about the arrest of a staff member. The priest is also the director of the Diocesan Development and Welfare Society (DDWS).

Bishop Louis Mascarenhas of Allahabad expressed his joy at Father Francis's release, calling it a "Christmas gift" as he welcomed the priest at the Naini jail gate with a bouquet of flowers. However, concerns about the increasing persecution of Christians in Uttar Pradesh persist.

The arrest unfolded as the police were searching for a Christian pastor named Susai Raj, accused of violating "conversion laws" by conducting prayers in a house. Raj happens to be the brother of an employee working under Father Francis. When the police failed to locate Raj, they arrested two of his brothers, his son-in-law, and Father Francis, charging them with conversion and "attempt to murder."

A C Michael, coordinator of the United Christian Forum (UCF), emphasized the alarming situation, stating, "This incident shows the ugly reality behind many of the conversion cases. Though Father Francis has been released, there are dozens of innocent Christians languishing in jail under such dubious charges. One more pastor has been arrested in Uttar Pradesh today."

The UCF, an ecumenical forum monitoring anti-Christian violence, reported 687 incidents of violence against Christians in the first 11 months of 2023. Michael highlighted the troubling trend, noting that incidents have steadily increased since 2014, with Uttar Pradesh alone accounting for 287 of the reported incidents. Anti-conversion laws have been criticized for being misused to target Christians, with more than 300 questionable arrests made under Freedom of Religious Acts (FORA).

Despite international condemnation, vigilante mobs, often comprising religious extremists, continue to disrupt prayer gatherings and accuse individuals of forcible conversions. The UCF cited a study revealing collusion between police and Hindu nationalist groups, with a lack of government action to ensure justice.

While these incidents raise concerns about religious freedom in India, the release of Father Francis brings relief to his community. The broader issue of the misuse of anti-conversion laws and the rising incidents of violence against Christians continues to be a cause for international concern.