USCIRF Once Again Raises Concern Over ‘Declining Religious Freedom’ in India
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has called on the Modi government to release 37 individuals across multiple faiths jailed for the ‘peaceful exercise of their freedom of religion or belief’.
New Delhi: The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has once again noted with concern that “religious freedom conditions in India have notably declined in recent years”.
During a hearing on ‘Advancing Religious Freedom within the US – India Bilateral Relationship’ on September 20, USCIRF highlighted the Indian government’s legal framework and enforcement of “discriminatory policies against religious minorities”, a press statement said.
USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the US Congress to monitor, analyse, and report on religious freedom abroad. The governmental body makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief.
The hearing on September 20 discussed “enforced discriminatory policies targeting religious minorities”, the recent violence in Haryana’s Nuh , and targeted attacks against Christians and Jewish minorities in Manipur. The participants of the hearing offered policy options for the United States to work with India to combat abuses of religious freedom and related human rights in the country.
“Religious freedom conditions in India have notably declined in recent years,” said USCIRF chair Abraham Cooper. “Muslims, Sikhs,Christians, Dalits, and Adivasis are experiencing increased levels of attacks and acts of intimidation. Authorities have continued to suppress minority voices and those advocating on their behalf. These trends, and their implication for US foreign policy, should not be ignored.”
The US body also called for the release of religious prisoners in India. According to USCIRF’s Frank. R Wolf Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List, a public database, a total of 37 individuals across multiple faiths have been jailed for the “peaceful exercise of their freedom of religion or belief”.
During the hearing, the participants drew attention to Meeran Haider and Rupesh Singh , who have been imprisoned for protesting against the deterioration of religious freedom, the press statement said.
Hairder, a Jamia Millia Islamia student and a youth leader of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), was arrested by the special cell of Delhi Police in connection with his alleged involvement in violence in North East Delhi in February 2020. Singh, an independent journalist, was arrested by Jharkhand Police on July 17, 2022, for his alleged links with the outlawed Communist Party of India (Maoist).
“Haider was targeted for leading peaceful protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) and was charged with offences under the UAPA [Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act ]. Singh is a freelance journalist known for his reporting on state violence and discrimination against Adivasis. He has been detained since July 2022, also under the UAPA,” said USCIRF vice-chair Frederick A. Davie.
He further said, “USCIRF calls on the Indian government to evaluate these cases and to release all prisoners of conscience and those detained for peacefully expressing their religion or belief.”
Since June 2020, USCIRF has called on President Joe Biden to designate India as a “Country of Particular Concern” for the Modi government’s “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom”. In May this year, for the fourth consecutive year, USCIRF advised that the US administration should designate India as a ‘Country of Particular Concern,’ despite this recommendation not having been accepted since 2020.
This article is originally published on https://thewire.in/rights/uscirf-once-again-raises-concern-over-declining-religious-freedom-in-india
