According to the USCIRF, these actions represent severe violations of religious freedom. The report emphasizes the role of misinformation and hate speech propagated by government officials, which has incited violent attacks on religious minorities and their properties. Furthermore, it outlines changes to India’s legal framework aimed at targeting and disenfranchising these communities, citing specific measures such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), a Uniform Civil Code (UCC), and various state-level laws against conversion and cow slaughter.
In its 2024 Annual Report, the USCIRF has urged the U.S. Department of State to classify India as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) due to these systematic and egregious violations of religious freedom.
We would urge USCIRF to desist from such agenda driven efforts.
The USCIRF would also be well advised to utilise its time more productively on addressing human rights issues in the United States.
https://twitter.com/MEAIndia/status/1841808515800948967?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also addressed this issue, emphasizing that foreign interference is unacceptable regardless of the nation involved. He stated, “Foreign interference is foreign interference, no matter who does it or where it happens.”
Critics have also expressed concerns that the U.S. may be using its stance on religious freedom to further its geopolitical interests, citing a perceived bias in ignoring violence against minorities, particularly Hindus, following the fall of Sheikh Hasina’s government in Bangladesh. They argue that the U.S. holds a double standard by asserting its right to comment on the state of democracy in other nations, while labeling similar actions by other countries as “foreign interference.”
Netizens have also argued that the report is far from objective. Critics point to the backgrounds of the report’s authors, including Dr. Asif Mohammed, a practicing Muslim from Pakistan; Mohamed Elsanousi, educated in Sharia law; Vicky Hartzler, an Evangelical Christian; and Maureen Fergusson, a Catholic advocate, arguing that their religious affiliations reflect a biased agenda. The critique dismisses the report as unworthy of serious consideration.
https://twitter.com/arrgnt_sanatan/status/1841564271941177536?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
