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US religious freedom body again urges State Department to designate India 'country of particular concern'

By The South Asia Times

WASHINGTON - A top US government commission has again recommended that India be designated a "country of particular concern" over what it calls systematic violations of religious freedom targeting minority communities.

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) made the recommendation following a congressional hearing in Washington on Thursday, where lawmakers and experts testified about the deteriorating conditions for Christians, Muslims, Sikhs and Dalits in India.

USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler told the hearing that India's religious freedom record has worsened steadily.

"Our 2026 annual report once again recommends India be designated a 'country of particular concern' due to ongoing, systematic and egregious violations," Hartzler said.

She noted that Indian authorities at federal, state and local levels continue to tolerate abuses through discriminatory laws, arbitrary arrests of religious figures, and failure to protect minority communities from attacks.

Hartzler pointed out that 13 of India's 28 states now enforce strict anti-conversion laws, with punishments including life imprisonment for those facilitating conversions from Hinduism.

USCIRF Vice Chair Asif Mahmood alleged that India's crackdown extends overseas, including surveillance of activists and assassination attempts targeting Sikhs in North America.

Georgetown University professor Arjun Sethi cited the 2023 killing of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada, which Canadian authorities have linked to Indian government operatives.

Former war crimes ambassador Stephen Rapp warned that atrocities against minorities are becoming normalized in India, with perpetrators rarely held accountable.

Lawmakers also expressed concern over proposed amendments to India's foreign funding laws that could allow government seizure of Christian hospital and school properties.