, an advocacy group focused on preserving India’s diverse and tolerant heritage, has expressed approval of the US State Department’s 2023 International Religious Freedom (IRF) report. This report highlights ongoing challenges faced by religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians, in India. The IRF report aligns with findings from the annual report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), which recommends designating India as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) due to ongoing violations of religious freedoms for minorities. The IAMC emphasized the urgency of this recommendation in a statement released on Wednesday (26). “Once again, it is clear from the State Department’s own reporting that India qualifies as a CPC,” said Rasheed Ahmed, IAMC Executive Director. “It is now imperative for Secretary (Antony) Blinken to act on these findings and designate India as a CPC, as USCIRF has consistently advocated,” he added. The IAMC also urged the Indian government to take immediate steps to address these issues and safeguard the rights of all citizens, irrespective of their religion. Presenting the report, Secretary of State Blinken noted: “In India, we see a concerning increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, and demolitions of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith communities.” The report outlines various issues faced by religious minorities under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, including anti-Muslim and anti-Christian violence, hate speech and disinformation targeting Muslims, cow vigilantism, home and mosque demolitions, and discriminatory policies such as the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and anti-conversion laws. It also details incidents of mob violence during Hindu festivals, and attacks on minority homes, shops, and places of worship. The report also covers ongoing ethnic and religious violence in Manipur state, the promotion of anti-Muslim disinformation and propaganda movies by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), attempts by Hindu groups to take over historic mosques, and hate speech events encouraging violence and discrimination against Muslims and Christians. Specific cases of human rights abuses against Muslims are also highlighted, including the mob lynching of two Muslim men, Mohammad Junaid and Mohammad Nasir, by cow vigilantes; the killing of six people, including an imam, in Haryana’s Nuh amid mob violence; the acquittal of 69 individuals charged with killing 11 Muslims during the 2002 Gujarat riots; and the shooting of three Muslim train passengers by a railway officer who allegedly warned Muslims to vote for Prime Minister Modi immediately after the incident. [ad_2]){kind=link}
The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), an advocacy group targeted on preserving India’s various and tolerant heritage, has expressed approval of the US State Division’s 2023 Worldwide Spiritual Freedom (IRF) report. This report highlights ongoing challenges confronted by spiritual minorities, notably Muslims and Christians, in India.
The IRF report aligns with findings from the annual report of the US Fee on Worldwide Spiritual Freedom (USCIRF), which recommends designating India as a Nation of Specific Concern (CPC) as a consequence of ongoing violations of non secular freedoms for minorities. The IAMC emphasised the urgency of this suggestion in a press release launched on Wednesday (26).
“As soon as once more, it’s clear from the State Division’s personal reporting that India qualifies as a CPC,” mentioned Rasheed Ahmed, IAMC Government Director. “It’s now crucial for Secretary (Antony) Blinken to behave on these findings and designate India as a CPC, as USCIRF has constantly advocated,” he added.
The IAMC additionally urged the Indian authorities to take rapid steps to deal with these points and safeguard the rights of all residents, no matter their faith.
Presenting the report, Secretary of State Blinken famous: “In India, we see a regarding enhance in anti-conversion legal guidelines, hate speech, and demolitions of properties and locations of worship for members of minority religion communities.”
The report outlines numerous points confronted by spiritual minorities underneath Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration, together with anti-Muslim and anti-Christian violence, hate speech and disinformation concentrating on Muslims, cow vigilantism, dwelling and mosque demolitions, and discriminatory insurance policies such because the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and anti-conversion legal guidelines. It additionally particulars incidents of mob violence throughout Hindu festivals, and assaults on minority properties, retailers, and locations of worship.
The report additionally covers ongoing ethnic and spiritual violence in Manipur state, the promotion of anti-Muslim disinformation and propaganda films by the Bharatiya Janata Celebration (BJP), makes an attempt by Hindu teams to take over historic mosques, and hate speech occasions encouraging violence and discrimination in opposition to Muslims and Christians.
Particular circumstances of human rights abuses in opposition to Muslims are additionally highlighted, together with the mob lynching of two Muslim males, Mohammad Junaid and Mohammad Nasir, by cow vigilantes; the killing of six folks, together with an imam, in Haryana’s Nuh amid mob violence; the acquittal of 69 people charged with killing 11 Muslims in the course of the 2002 Gujarat riots; and the taking pictures of three Muslim practice passengers by a railway officer who allegedly warned Muslims to vote for Prime Minister Modi instantly after the incident.