The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has expressed serious concerns over the state of religious freedom in India, describing it as a “deteriorating and concerning trajectory” in its annual report released on October 2, 2024.
The bipartisan advisory body has linked this decline to inflammatory rhetoric from political leaders during the recent general elections and government policies that have intensified violence against religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians.
In its country update, the USCIRF documented 161 incidents of violence against Christians from January to March 2024, with Chhattisgarh witnessing the highest number of cases at 47. Furthermore, it reported that 20 Christians were detained in Uttar Pradesh during June and July on charges of forced conversions.
The report also highlighted a significant surge in attacks targeting Muslims, particularly following the re-election of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, attributing this violence to the anti-Muslim sentiments stoked during the election campaign.
Political officials, according to the USCIRF, have increasingly employed hate speech against Muslims and other religious minorities in the lead-up to the elections. Notably, remarks made by Modi and other leaders included warnings about the opposition's intentions to undermine Hinduism and unfounded claims that Sharia law would be imposed if the opposition were to win.
The USCIRF noted that in March 2024, a group of UN experts expressed alarm over the rising violence and hate crimes directed at religious minorities as the parliamentary elections approached. The report detailed various forms of violence, including targeted killings, vandalism of property, and harassment.
Misinformation and hate speech originating from government officials have exacerbated tensions, the commission reported. For instance, attacks on Muslims in Mumbai’s Mira Road followed inflammatory speeches made by local lawmakers after the inauguration of the Ram Temple in January.
Moreover, the USCIRF highlighted the troubling phenomenon of “bulldozer justice,” where authorities have demolished Muslim properties under the guise of clearing illegal structures, including the destruction of a historic mosque in Delhi without prior notice.
The commission also expressed concerns regarding the 2024 Waqf Amendment Bill, which it believes could further erode the autonomy of Muslim communities over their religious institutions. This legislation has been perceived as a response to growing misinformation about wealth distribution within Muslim communities, which has been fuelled by derogatory comments made by government officials during the election period.
The USCIRF reiterated that conditions for religious freedom in India continue to worsen, emphasising the enforcement of discriminatory laws such as anti-conversion, cow slaughter, and anti-terrorism statutes, which are used to suppress religious communities.
The report stated that authorities have detained various individuals, including religious leaders and human rights activists, who have sought to expose these violations, often without due process.
The USCIRF has consistently recommended that India be designated a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ since 2020, a designation the US State Department has yet to acknowledge. In response to the report, Indian Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal accused the USCIRF of political bias and interference in India’s electoral process, asserting that the commission’s agenda does not reflect the country’s diverse and democratic ethos.