In a candid assessment, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Fernand de Varennes, has voiced alarming concerns about the gradual erosion of fundamental rights, with a particular focus on religious and minority communities in India. This revelation unfolded during a hearing convened by the US Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) on Wednesday.
De Varennes chose three potent words to encapsulate the current situation in India – “massive, systematic, and dangerous.” India has previously rejected USCIRF reports alleging religious freedom violations within its borders.
Appearing before the USCIRF to discuss policy options for the advancement of religious freedom in India, de Varennes underscored a “steady” and “alarming” decline in fundamental rights, especially among religious and minority groups. He warned that India could potentially become a major source of instability, atrocities, and violence due to the magnitude and gravity of violations and abuses, which predominantly target religious and other minority communities, including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and more. De Varennes emphasized that these issues are not isolated incidents but rather part of a systematic pattern fueled by religious nationalism.
This hearing comes following two significant bilateral meetings between Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden earlier this year. Abraham Cooper, USCIRF chair, asserted that Muslims, Sikhs, Christians, Dalits, and Adivasis are facing “increased levels of attacks and acts of intimidation” in India. He further claimed that the Indian national government has been suppressing minority voices and those advocating on their behalf through measures such as surveillance, harassment, property demolitions, and detention under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act. Cooper stressed the importance of acknowledging these trends and their implications for US foreign policy.
Religious freedom conditions in India have been deteriorating for several years, gaining international attention and emphasizing the need for continued discussions on policy options to safeguard religious freedom in the country, according to Cooper.
It is worth noting that the USCIRF, an independent bipartisan advisory body of the US government, was created by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA), and its recommendations are not binding on the US government.
India had previously rejected a USCIRF report earlier this year, characterizing it as “biased” and “motivated.” The Ministry of External Affairs urged USCIRF to refrain from such efforts and to develop a better understanding of India, its diversity, democratic values, and constitutional mechanisms.
While Indian Prime Minister Modi’s state visit to the United States was seen as a reflection of the strong bilateral relationship between the two nations, the USCIRF expressed concerns about discriminatory policies targeting religious minorities in India. These policies include anti-conversion laws, cow slaughter laws, preferential citizenship based on religion, and restrictions on foreign funding for civil society organizations. Recent events, such as inter-religious violence in Haryana and targeted attacks against Christian and Jewish minorities in Manipur, underscore the need for new strategies to mitigate violence against religious minorities in India, as noted by USCIRF.
Since 2020, the USCIRF has recommended that the US Department of State designate India as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC).
Source: PTI
