Dipesh Shrestha, Nepal : A deeply inhumane incident has surfaced from Baiteshwar Rural Municipality-8, a district close to Nepal’s capital, which reflects a concerning decline in humanity among Nepalese society.

The incident occurred on Asar 27 (mid-July), when the body of a 93-year-old local woman, Amritmaya Shrestha, was returned home during her funeral proceedings simply because she was a Christian. The funeral procession, including the mourners, was stopped by locals who collectively opposed the burial in the community forest area.

Amritmaya Shrestha had been undergoing treatment at a hospital in Dhulikhel but sadly passed away during treatment. Following her death, preparations were made to bury her in a nearby community forest in accordance with Christian traditions. A grave had already been dug at the location designated for burials within the forest.

However, just as final preparations for the burial were underway in the presence of relatives and locals, a video recorded by a man named Suman Shrestha shows that the deceased was identified as Christian and, for that reason alone, denied burial at the site. The body was forcefully returned home, highlighting the extent of religious intolerance.

According to Article 17, Sub-Article 2(b) of Part 3 of Nepal’s Constitution, every individual has the right to freedom of religion. Yet, this incident raises serious questions: Will the local government, the District Administration Office, or the federal government respond to such blatant violation of religious freedom, even in death?

What role will organizations advocating for the rights, protection, and promotion of the Nepali-speaking Christian community play in addressing this injustice? Is the Nepalese state silently supporting those who discriminate against minority religious communities?

This incident compels a national conversation on religious freedom, minority rights, and the responsibility of the state to ensure dignity and equality for all citizens—alive or deceased.