The USCIRF has called on the US Department of State to list India as a “Country of Particular Concern,” and citing worsening religious freedom in the country. Regulations announced and implemented by Indian government, anti-conversion and cow slaughter laws as well as measures against terrorism, claimed to target religious minorities according to USCIRF report. It also pinpoints extrajudicial arrests of journalists, human rights activists and religious figures.
The report, which Sema Hasan, a senior policy analyst, prepared, argues that Indian authorities use hate speech that incites violence and destruction of religious sites, especially of members of a minority religion. It also shows how in the course of 2024 there is an escalation of lynching cases, arrest of religious leaders, Pulling down of houses and worship places. These actions, as the report reveals were severe violations of religious freedom.
According to the USCIRF, the situation has been getting worse in India especially in the build up to the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. The report expresses concern with the Indian government’s policy of discrimination, prejudice actions, and suppression of civil society. This includes Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), National Register of Citizens (NRC), The Waqf Amendment Bill, which officials have rationalized as a process of conservation of centre’s civilizational legacy.
Indian and Indian-Americans have earlier alleged that the USCIRF has a prejudiced and pre-conceived approach to its investigations and information made available by the commission has been denied by the Indian and the Indian-American groups.
