By The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has raised serious concerns about India’s increasing targeting of religious minorities, both within its borders and abroad. In a strong statement, the commission implored the US Department of State to designate India as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) due to its “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of freedom of religion or belief.”
The USCIRF highlighted several disturbing trends, including:
Transnational repression: targeting of religious minorities and human rights defenders living outside India, including the alleged involvement in killings and plots against activists in Canada and the US.
Crackdown on dissent: Use of draconian laws like the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act and anti-conversion laws to silence journalists, activists, and religious minorities.
Online harassment: employing spyware and online campaigns to intimidate critics and journalists abroad.
These actions, according to USCIRF, represent a severe escalation of India’s efforts to suppress dissent and violate religious freedom, both domestically and internationally. The commission urged the Biden administration to acknowledge the gravity of these violations and designate India as a CPC, a move that would carry significant diplomatic and economic consequences.
The statement also called for continued engagement with India to ensure the safety and freedom of religious minorities, whether within India or abroad. The USCIRF has consistently recommended this designation since 2020, highlighting the persistent and worsening concerns around religious freedom in India.
It’s important to note that this rewrite aims to present the information in a clear, objective, and factual manner, avoiding inflammatory language or biased perspectives. It focuses on the key points raised by USCIRF and avoids unnecessary details or opinions.
Hopefully, this provides a more concise and neutral summary of the situation for further analysis or discussion.
