U.S. Christian Leaders Urge Sanctions Against India for Religious Freedom Violations

More than 300 Christian leaders in the U.S., including 18 bishops and three archbishops, have called on the State Department to designate India as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) due to escalating religious freedom violations, particularly against Christians, Muslim Mirror reported yesterday.

Organized by the Federation of Indian-American Christian Organizations, the letter cites a dramatic rise in attacks on Christians, from 127 incidents in 2014 to 720 in 2023, displacing over 65,000 individuals in Manipur alone.

The leaders attribute this surge to a “Hindu ethno-nationalist” ideology under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government, which has led to state-sanctioned violence and anti-conversion laws in at least 10 states.

They also criticize the U.S. government’s silence on these issues, urging accountability for Indian officials and support for independent rights organizations. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom has echoed these concerns, highlighting increasing hate speech and demolitions affecting minority communities.