USCIRF Report: India’s Religious Freedom Eroding Amid Rising Violence

USCIRF Report Highlights India’s Deteriorating Religious Freedom Conditions

Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released a comprehensive report detailing the worsening state of religious freedom in India throughout 2024.

The report, titled “India Country Update”, highlights the severe violations of religious rights, including killings, beatings, and lynchings of individuals by vigilante groups, arbitrary arrests of religious leaders, and the demolition of homes and places of worship.

The report draws attention to the widespread use of misinformation and hate speech by government officials to incite violence against religious minorities.

Additionally, it addresses legal changes, including the enforcement of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), the proposed Uniform Civil Code (UCC), and various state-level anti-conversion and cow slaughter laws, which further marginalize religious minorities.

In USCIRF’s 2024 Annual Report, the commission once again recommended that the U.S. Department of State designate India as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) due to its ongoing, systematic, and egregious violations of religious freedom.

Violence in Manipur: The report sheds light on the violent clashes between tribal Kuki and Meitei communities in Manipur, which began in May 2024. The violence, initially triggered by a court decision on Scheduled Tribe status for the Meitei, resulted in the destruction of thousands of homes, over 400 churches, and the displacement of more than 70,000 people. Reports of sexual violence, religious persecution, and government inaction have further escalated concerns.

The report also examines the growing enforcement of anti-conversion laws across India, which have been used to target and criminalize religious minorities. Thirteen states continue to enforce these laws, which restrict conversions from Hinduism and are often used to justify arrests and persecution.

High-profile cases, such as the arrests of Christian pastors in Chhattisgarh and the implementation of anti-conversion provisions in Uttar Pradesh, underscore the expanding reach of these laws.

USCIRF also raised concerns over the increasing use of “love jihad” laws targeting interfaith marriages, often used to discriminate against Muslim men and further restrict religious freedoms.

USCIRF’s Recommendations to the U.S. Government:

In response to the troubling developments in India, USCIRF made several recommendations to the U.S. government, including:- Designating India as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) for its systematic violations.

– Imposing targeted sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for severe religious freedom violations.- Strengthening U.S. diplomatic engagement with India on religious freedom issues.

– Encouraging U.S. lawmakers to raise concerns over religious freedom in India through hearings, briefings, and delegations.

The report highlights the urgent need for international intervention to address the escalating religious persecution and ensure that India’s constitutional protections for religious freedom are upheld.