In a significant enforcement action following complaints of visa misuse, the Immigration Department on 25 November reportedly prevented Nigerian evangelist Chris Oyakhilome and several foreign associates from attending a Christian gathering at LB Stadium, Hyderabad. The event, officially scheduled from November 25-28, 2025, was publicly campaigned as a “Christian Leaders Conference”.
The intervention came after sustained complaints by the Legal Rights Protection Forum (LRPF), a Hyderabad based legal advocacy group, which alleged that the organisers had falsely portrayed the programme as a neutral conference to evade visa restrictions.
As a result of our multiple complaints & sustained efforts, Immigration Department prevented Nigerian pastor Mr. Chris Oyakhilome and his foreign associates from attending the Christian religious event (falsely projected as "Conference") held at LB Stadium on 25th Nov. https://t.co/ojVCzr9td2
— Legal Rights Protection Forum (@lawinforce) November 26, 2025
LRPF said pastors and Christian leaders from various States were invited, and that public donations were being collected features that clearly indicated a religious congregation rather than a professional leadership meet.
LRPF noted that it had formally alerted the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO), Hyderabad, through a written complaint on October 25, 2025, warning of potential violations of the Foreigners Act, 1946 by Mr Oyakhilome, Ose Oyakhilome, Chiwetal Mokeme, and others.
The forum highlighted that Indian visa rules categorically bar foreign nationals from engaging in preaching, evangelism, proselytising or any activity connected to religious influence. Citing Rule 15 of the General Policy Guidelines Relating to Indian Visa, LRPF underscored that “preaching religious ideologies, delivering speeches at religious places, distribution of religious material and attempts at conversion” are strictly prohibited.
LRPF further pointed to a 2011 RTI response from the Ministry of Home Affairs clarifying that visas cannot be granted to individuals visiting India specifically for evangelical or propaganda campaigns.
Mr Oyakhilome, head of the global evangelical organisation Christ Embassy (Believers’ Loveworld Inc.), is known internationally for large-scale preaching events. LRPF stated that Believers Loveworld Trust, registered in Pune and headed by foreign national Glory Chiwetal Mokeme, operates as an affiliate of the Nigerian parent ministry, facilitating coordinated evangelical activity in India.
Speaking to Organiser, AS Santosh, secretary of LRPF, said this is an organised Christian evangelical network fully aware of Indian visa norms, yet determined to override them. If questioned, they slip into a victimhood narrative, claiming “danger to Christianity” simply because permissions were denied. If the government ignores such violations, they proceed with evangelical activity; either way, those operating behind the scenes seek to blame the public and the elected government while dividing politicians through a pseudo-secularism template.
The organisation reiterated that violation of visa conditions is a criminal offence under Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, 1946, attracting imprisonment of up to five years and fines.
Following the Immigration Department’s action preventing participation of the foreign evangelist in the 25–28 November programme, LRPF urged the Union Home Ministry, Bureau of Immigration and FRRO Hyderabad to launch punitive proceedings against both the foreign nationals and the event organisers.
LRPF also called for nationwide instructions to ensure that foreign citizens are not allowed entry into India for religious or conversion-oriented gatherings disguised as “conferences” or “leadership summits”.
The forum expressed confidence that the Home Ministry will act decisively to maintain the integrity of India’s visa system and prevent its exploitation for religious propaganda.
