WASHINGTON: Three influential U.S. lawmakers have called for India to be designated a “Country of Particular Concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) due to alarming violations of religious freedom.
Republican Congressman Glenn Grothman, U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Chair Kirsten Haakzer, and Vice-Chair Dr. Asif Mahmood, a Pakistani-American Muslim, have urged Secretary of State Marco Rubio to take decisive action against the growing religious intolerance in India.
While the international community is well aware of religious freedoms concerns in China, the trio highlighted that India, often hailed as the world’s largest democracy, has seen a troubling escalation in religious persecution. The op-ed raises concerns over a systematic crackdown on religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians, pointing to state-enforced anti-conversion laws, increasing violence, and discriminatory policies that have severely impacted the religious freedom of these communities.
Dr. Asif Mahmood, originally from Khariyan, Pakistan, is one of the key figures driving this advocacy effort. His leadership in this crucial U.S. commission marks a significant moment for South Asian Americans, particularly Muslim communities, in representing issues of religious freedom on the global stage.
The editorial notes that since 1928, India has enacted anti-conversion laws in 12 states. While these laws were initially intended to prevent forced conversions, they have increasingly been used to target religious leaders and ordinary citizens, accusing them of attempting to convert Hindus to Christianity or Islam. The U.S. lawmakers point to the growing misuse of these laws to arrest hundreds of people, often with no evidence, under the guise of protecting religious integrity.
Specific examples of such abuses were highlighted, including incidents in the state of Goa, where the Chief Minister announced plans to introduce new laws targeting “Love Jihad,” a controversial and unfounded conspiracy theory alleging that Muslim men are systematically attempting to convert Hindu women through marriage. In Uttar Pradesh, a Christian pastor and his wife were falsely accused of attempting to convert their Hindu neighbors under the pretext of offering education and food assistance.
The editorial also draws attention to an alarming proposal in Madhya Pradesh, where a law has been suggested that would impose the death penalty for those found guilty of forced religious conversion. These developments are seen as part of a broader pattern of intolerance that threatens the religious freedom of millions in India.
The U.S. lawmakers argued that India’s treatment of religious minorities is not only a violation of human rights but also contradicts the values of democracy and pluralism that India claims to uphold.
They asserted that if India truly desires to strengthen its relationship with the United States, it must take concrete steps to end religious discrimination and repeal anti-conversion laws. By doing so, India would demonstrate its commitment to shared democratic values and religious freedom, sending a strong message to the international community that it is committed to upholding the rights of all its citizens.
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