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General Studies 2 >> Polity

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RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN INDIA - USCIRF

RELIGIOUS FREEDOM IN INDIA

 
 
1. Context
 
The Washington DC-based United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on October 2 released a country update on India, flagging “collapsing religious freedom conditions”. Among other things, the report highlighted how throughout 2024, individuals from minority communities have been killed and lynched by vigilante groups, religious leaders have been arbitrarily arrested, and places of worship have been demolished. The Indian government has rejected the report as coming from a “biased organisation”.
 
2. USCIRF report on India
 
  • The recent USCIRF report highlights significant concerns regarding religious freedom in India. It details a range of severe violations throughout 2024, including violent attacks against individuals from minority communities, arbitrary arrests of religious leaders, and the demolition of homes and places of worship.
  • The report underscores the role of government officials in spreading misinformation and inciting violence against religious minorities
  • Particularly alarming are the impacts of certain laws, such as the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), which has been criticized for discriminating against Muslims, potentially leading to statelessness for many
  • The report also cites specific incidents of communal violence, including the destruction of numerous churches in Manipur, displacing thousands​
  • The USCIRF has recommended that the U.S. State Department classify India as a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC) due to these systematic violations of religious freedom, which could lead to diplomatic repercussions and sanctions​
 
 
What is the USCIRF?
 
  • The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal agency established through the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).
  • Its role is to track and evaluate religious freedom rights globally, except in the U.S., based on international human rights standards. The primary focus is Article 18 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, which ensures the right to freedom of thought, conscience, and religion. This includes the freedom to change one’s religion or beliefs and to practice them individually or collectively, both privately and publicly.
  • USCIRF operates separately from the U.S. State Department’s Office of International Religious Freedom (IRF), though both publish annual reports on religious freedom. While USCIRF's assessments can influence a country's reputation, IRF's conclusions have a more direct impact on diplomatic relations.
  • Following its mandate under the IRFA, USCIRF monitors global religious freedom by conducting research, traveling, and engaging with human rights organizations, NGOs, persecution victims, and foreign officials.
  • Based on these findings, it publishes annual reports identifying nations that meet the criteria for the U.S. State Department's designation as a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC) or, for less severe violations, inclusion on a "Special Watch List" (SWL).
  • Countries committing "systematic, ongoing, and egregious" violations of religious freedom are marked as CPCs. Governments that tolerate or engage in serious violations, but don't meet the CPC standard, are placed on the SWL. If the State Department follows USCIRF's recommendations, it can take measures under the IRFA, including sanctions, to address such violations
 
3.Way Forward
 
The reports produced by the USCIRF are supported by thorough research and a wealth of citations from credible domestic and international media sources, along with firsthand testimonies. In the update concerning India, all claims are substantiated by publicly accessible documentation, with no apparent misrepresentation of facts. However, the timing of this update has sparked scrutiny and led to concerns, such as those expressed by the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), regarding its potential to be “agenda-driven.”
 
Source: The Hindu

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