US EditionIndia Dismisses USCIRF's Religious Freedom Critique
USCIRF urged US government to label India a Country of Particular Concern due to worsening religious freedom violations and recommended sanctions on RSS and R&AW.
- On Mar 16, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended India be designated a Country of Particular Concern for systematic religious freedom violations, presenting that recommendation in its annual report.
- USCIRF found that in 2025, religious freedom conditions deteriorated as the government introduced new legislation targeting religious minority communities and several states strengthened anti-conversion laws with harsher prison sentences.
- The report highlighted the April 22 Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir where three gunmen killed 26 predominantly Hindu tourists; USCIRF blamed the Resistance Front and noted perpetrators forced victims to recite the Kalma.
- USCIRF recommended targeted sanctions on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and Research and Analysis Wing, urged linking US security assistance and bilateral trade to religious freedom improvements, and asked Congress to reintroduce the Transnational Repression Reporting Act of 2024.
- India has in recent years rejected USCIRF reports as "biased and politically motivated," and there were no immediate comments on this report; USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler framed the findings amid global religious freedom abuses.
18 Articles
18 Articles
India Dismisses USCIRF's Religious Freedom Critique
India Dismisses USCIRF's Religious Freedom Critique India has emphatically dismissed a report from the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) that criticizes the nation for alleged violations of religious freedom, calling for Washington to condition its security assistance and trade on improvements in this area. The report suggests 'targeted sanctions' against organizations like the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and the Re…
Biased: India slams 'selective targeting' as US body seeks sanctions on RAW, RSS
Responding to media queries, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the government “categorically rejects” the report and its characterisation of India. He said the commission has repeatedly presented a “distorted and selective picture” of the country.
India Flags "Selective Targeting" After US Body Urges Sanctions On R&AW, RSS
The Centre on Monday responded strongly after a United States federal government commission recommended that India be designated a "Country of Particular Concern" for religious freedom violations.
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