Jail term in interfaith bill reduced
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The Upper House has reduced the prison term for those who violate the interfaith marriage law from five to two years.
Lower House MP Thein Tun Oo said the bill’s punishment system has become weaker due to the Upper House’s alteration of the imprisonment term.
The bill prohibits husbands from forcing their Buddhist wives to change religions. Under Chapter 5, Section 19(E) of the initial draft of the bill, Buddhist wives are barred from “sacrificing Buddhism or changing to other religions, or they will face a maximum of five years in imprisonment and a maximum of Ks200,000 in fine”.
The Upper House changed “five years” to “two years.”
According to Nanda Kyaw, deputy-chairperson of the Lower House, the Upper House removed four sections and amended twelve that the Lower House approved. The Upper House sent the bill back to the Lower House on June 2.
President Thein Sein proposed the law last year, arousing criticisms from international community.
