India’s Religious Freedom Crisis: A Country of Particular Concern

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has once again recommended that the State Department identify India as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC), reigniting worldwide worries about the degradation of religious freedoms in India. This highlights the rising global uproar against the Indian government’s policies and actions under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Despite being the world’s largest democracy, India’s reputation as a secular and pluralistic country is under threat from a troubling trend of state-sanctioned discrimination and persecution.

A Deteriorating Religious Landscape

India, traditionally famed for its rich tapestry of religious variety, is currently facing a disturbing rise in religious intolerance and persecution. The USCIRF has identified several legislative acts that disproportionately affect religious minorities, primarily Muslims and Christians. These concerns center on anti-conversion legislation, cow slaughter restrictions, and anti-terrorism laws, all of which are frequently used to persecute minority populations.

Anti-conversion laws, purportedly intended to prevent forced religious conversions, have instead been used to criminalize people’s peaceful and voluntary conversions from Hinduism to other religions, mainly Christianity and Islam. These laws, which exist in various Indian states, are sometimes vague in their terms, leading to widespread abuse. Under the pretense of defending religious freedom, these laws have incited violence against religious minorities, empowering vigilante groups to act with near-total impunity. As a result, there has been an increase in mob violence, church destructions, and the unjust arrest of individuals based solely on suspicion of proselytizing.

Similarly, cow slaughter regulations in several Indian states have taken on a strongly sectarian tone. In a country where Hindus worship the cow, these regulations have allowed Hindu nationalist parties to target Muslims and lower-caste people, who are frequently involved in cattle-related industries. The outcome has been a series of brutal lynchings in which individuals have been killed in the name of cow protection. The lack of accountability for these atrocities has created a sense of terror among minority populations, further fracturing India’s social fabric.

The abuse of anti-terrorism legislation, notably the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), has also received strong criticism. The USCIRF has pointed out how these laws have been used to arbitrarily jail journalists, human rights advocates, and religious leaders without due process. The implementation of these severe regulations has become an easy method for suppressing criticism and restricting freedom of speech, with individuals who speak out against governmental policies being labeled as “terrorists” or “anti-national.”

Religious Freedom Under Siege

The state of religious freedom in India has been a source of concern for several years, with the situation deteriorating under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led administration. It is not the first time India has faced criticism for its treatment of religious minorities; it is part of a larger international narrative that calls into question the Modi government’s commitment to democratic norms and human rights.

The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), enacted in 2019, is one of the most extreme cases of religious discrimination. This statute expedites Indian citizenship for non-Muslim refugees from neighboring countries, thereby institutionalizing religious discrimination. The CAA, in conjunction with the proposed National Register of Citizens (NRC), has sparked concerns of widespread disenfranchisement among India’s Muslim community, potentially making millions stateless. Following the implementation of the CAA, Indian authorities responded harshly, with numerous instances of police brutality and arbitrary detentions of demonstrators.

Furthermore, the situation in Jammu and Kashmir remains a major concern. Since the Indian government abolished the region’s semi-autonomous status in 2019, there has been a significant rise in military presence, communication outages, and travel restrictions. These measures have disproportionately affected Kashmir’s largely Muslim populace, with reports of extrajudicial murders, enforced disappearances, and arbitrary detentions. The USCIRF has consistently raised alarms over human rights violations in Kashmir and urged the international community to take action.

Silencing of Voices

One of the most concerning trends observed by the USCIRF is the systematic targeting of anyone who criticizes the government’s religious policy. Journalists, human rights campaigners, and religious leaders have faced harassment, searches, and incarceration on vague and arbitrary allegations. The government’s use of anti-terrorism legislation to muzzle criticism has had a chilling effect on free speech, with many individuals reluctant to express their concerns for fear of retaliation.

Journalists, in particular, have been under fire. The Indian media landscape has suffered a significant decline in press freedom. The arrests of renowned journalists, raids on news outlets, and the prospect of defamation suits have all contributed to a fearful environment. Religious leaders and activists, who have historically been instrumental in advocating for the rights of marginalized people, have also experienced persecution.

The story of Father Stan Swamy, a Jesuit priest and human rights campaigner, exemplifies the state’s merciless attack on dissent. Father Swamy, an 84-year-old Parkinson’s disease patient, was arrested in 2020 under the UAPA for suspected participation in a 2018 caste-related violent event. His prolonged detention and eventual death in custody shocked the world community, highlighting the appalling conditions endured by political prisoners in India.

The Global Responsibility

The USCIRF’s suggestion to identify India as a “Country of Particular Concern” is a wake-up call to the global community. Its decline toward religious authoritarianism and intolerance demands action. The international community, particularly democratic nations, cannot afford to remain silent while the world’s largest democracy devolves into a majoritarian state in which religious minorities are marginalized and persecuted.

While India has rejected the USCIRF’s suggestion as an intrusion into its domestic affairs, the truth is that religious freedom is a global right. India, as a signatory to several international human rights accords, is required to respect the rights of all of its inhabitants, regardless of religion. The United States and other world powers must continue to urge India to keep its promises, utilizing diplomatic channels and international forums to ensure that religious freedom is restored and safeguarded in the country.

Conclusion

The situation in India is severe, and the USCIRF report serves as a timely warning of the fragility of democratic ideals in the face of nationalist fervor. The Modi government’s policies, which disproportionately target religious minorities, have contributed to a climate of fear and division. As India proceeds down this worrying path, the international community must remain vigilant and vocal in its support for human rights and religious freedom. Only persistent global pressure can help India return to its roots as a secular democracy in which all citizens, regardless of faith, may live with dignity and security.