US report highlights alarming decline in religious freedom in India
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its latest report on October 2, 2024, detailing a sharp deterioration in religious freedom in India. The report highlights a rise in violent attacks on religious minorities, arbitrary arrests of religious leaders, and systematic destruction of places of worship.
The report condemns government-sponsored misinformation and hate speech, which incite violence against various religious communities. Dr. Ghulam Nabi Fai, Chairman of the World Forum for Peace and Justice, emphasized the grim reality facing religious minorities, particularly in Kashmir.
The report also notes concerning instances of transnational repression, including Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s allegations of Indian government involvement in the assassination of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar.
Dr. Fai urged the international community to align its response with the suffering of the Kashmiri people, calling for an independent investigation into the region’s situation, criticizing India’s efforts to obscure its record of religious persecution, which includes restricting media access and human rights organizations.
Fai highlighted deliberate measures such as the banning of Islamic schools and control over religious trusts aimed at erasing the Islamic identity in Kashmir, stressing the need for transparency and global attention to the ongoing human rights abuses.
