US commission seeks targeted sanctions on Indian govt agencies over 'violation' of religious freedom
1 year, 7 months ago

US commission seeks targeted sanctions on Indian govt agencies over 'violation' of religious freedom

Firstpost  

The US Commission for International Religious Freedom has urged the US administration to impose targeted sanctions on Indian government agencies and officials responsible for severe violations of religious freedom in the country by freezing their assets. In its annual report on religious freedom, the USCIRF asked the US State Department to designate India as a country of particular concern on the status of religious freedom along with several other nations. Responding to questions, State Department’s Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel told reporters that USCIRF is not a branch of the State Department or the Executive Branch, and its report reflects the importance of religious freedom to the American people. This decision reaffirms what IMAC has been saying for years India’s government, under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, has continued to systematically violate the religious freedom of minority communities, particularly Muslims and Christians, said Rasheed Ahmed, IAMC executive director. It is high time that the State Department acts on USCIRF’s recommendation and holds India accountable as the ground situation becomes increasingly more violent and dangerous for its religious minorities.

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History of this topic

India rejects "deeply biased" US report on international religious freedom
5 months, 3 weeks ago

India rejects "deeply biased" US report on international religious freedom

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: India has categorically rejected the US State Department's 2023 report on international religious freedom as "deeply biased" and lacking understanding of India's social dynamics. "In 2023, India has officially taken up numerous cases in the US of hate crimes, racial attacks on Indian nationals and other minorities, vandalisation and targeting of places of worship, violence and mistreatment by …

India rejects USCIRF report on religious freedom
5 months, 3 weeks ago

India rejects USCIRF report on religious freedom

Op India  

On Friday, the Ministry of External Affairs rejected the US State Department’s report on international religious freedom calling it “deeply biased”. The report also appears to challenge the integrity of certain legal judgments given by Indian courts,” Jaiswal said. The report also appears to challenge the integrity of certain legal judgments given by Indian courts,” Randhir Jaiswal said. The USCIRF …

'Deeply biased, motivated by votebank considerations': India rejects US report on religious freedom
5 months, 3 weeks ago

'Deeply biased, motivated by votebank considerations': India rejects US report on religious freedom

India TV News  

New Delhi: India strongly responded to a recent report shared by the United States, calling it "deeply biased" and lacking an understanding of the country's social fabric. The Ministry of External Affairs said the report is visibly driven by vote bank considerations and a prescriptive outlook, and highlighted several instances of hate crimes, racial attacks and targeting places of worship …

Antony Blinken claims increase in hate speech in India citing USCIRF report
5 months, 3 weeks ago

Antony Blinken claims increase in hate speech in India citing USCIRF report

Op India  

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, an organisation India has strongly criticised in the past, has again raised ‘concerns’ over religious freedoms, citing the alleged rise in ‘hate speech’, demolitions and anti-conversion laws. Earlier in May, India rejected a similar report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom that accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of “reinforcing …

‘It has no Hindu members’: Diaspora body slams USCIRF for ‘biased’ reports on India
7 months ago

‘It has no Hindu members’: Diaspora body slams USCIRF for ‘biased’ reports on India

Hindustan Times  

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has been producing “biased” reports on India and Hindus as the religion has no representation in the commission, according to FIIDS, an Indian diaspora body in the United States of America. That is not represented on the commission, and this is going to be a big miss in terms of bringing the …

'Desire To Complicate...': Russia Claims US Trying To Interfere In Indian Elections
7 months, 2 weeks ago

'Desire To Complicate...': Russia Claims US Trying To Interfere In Indian Elections

News 18  

Russia has claimed that the United States is trying to interfere in Indian General Election, saying that it is part of a campaign to interfere in India’s internal affairs. I think that this is a desire to complicate the ongoing general parliamentary elections in India on the part of the United States and is part of a campaign to interfere …

USCIRF is biased and has a political agenda, says Ministry of External Affairs
7 months, 3 weeks ago

USCIRF is biased and has a political agenda, says Ministry of External Affairs

The Hindu  

India on Thursday hit out at the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom and said that it is trying to “interfere” in the Indian election process. Speaking to the media during the weekly interaction, Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs Randhir Jaiswal described the U.S. government entity, which came out with a report on religious freedom earlier this …

India Rejects USCIRF Accusations, Denounces Interference
7 months, 3 weeks ago

India Rejects USCIRF Accusations, Denounces Interference

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: India on Thursday accused the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom of trying to interfere in the Indian electoral process and claimed that the US’ efforts “will never succeed”. Their efforts to interfere in the largest electoral exercise of the world will never succeed.” On Wednesday, the USCIRF in its report had named India among the 17 …

India firmly rejects USCIRF report on religious freedom in India
7 months, 3 weeks ago

India firmly rejects USCIRF report on religious freedom in India

Op India  

India on Thursday rejected the report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom that accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of “reinforcing discriminatory nationalist policies” and said the organisation is completely ‘biased’ and it doesn’t even expect from the organization to understand country’s diverse, pluralistic and democratic ethos. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom is a U.S. …

'Propaganda against India': MEA rejects US report which alleges BJP of 'reinforcing discriminatory policies' – India TV
7 months, 3 weeks ago

'Propaganda against India': MEA rejects US report which alleges BJP of 'reinforcing discriminatory policies' – India TV

India TV News  

India on Thursday rejected the report of the US Commission on International Religious Freedom that accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of "reinforcing discriminatory nationalist policies" and said the organisation is completely 'biased' and doesn't even expect from the organization to understand the country's diverse, pluralistic and democratic ethos. The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom is a US …

As Indo-US relations deepen so will public scrutiny
1 year ago

As Indo-US relations deepen so will public scrutiny

Hindustan Times  

At one level, it seems there’s nothing but bad news in the Indo-US relationship. Senators and Congressmen of various hues have joined the chorus, with one group ‘pleading’ with President Biden to condemn India on religious freedoms. First, the obvious irritant, which is the Gurpatwant Singh Pannun incident, who till the time of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s public accusations, …

Religious Freedom Report 2022 is timed to tarnish the image of India and PM Modi ahead of his US visit
1 year, 7 months ago

Religious Freedom Report 2022 is timed to tarnish the image of India and PM Modi ahead of his US visit

Firstpost  

Case 1: It was an unusually busy and buzzy day in the otherwise sleepy village of Undhela in Gujarat’s Kheda district. But the State Department’s Religious Freedom Report 2022, released by US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken in Washington on Monday, has picked out Case 1, among other isolated incidents in India, to project the image of a majoritarian state …

'Biased, motivated': Govt rejects US report criticising India on religious freedom
1 year, 7 months ago

'Biased, motivated': Govt rejects US report criticising India on religious freedom

Deccan Chronicle  

New Delhi: India on Tuesday trashed as "motivated" and "biased" a report by the US State Department on religious freedom that criticised the country for alleged attacks on minorities. "We are aware of the release of the US State Department 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom. A senior US official said far too many governments, including Russia, India, China and …

MEA rejects U.S. State Department report citing deteriorating religious freedom in India
1 year, 7 months ago

MEA rejects U.S. State Department report citing deteriorating religious freedom in India

The Hindu  

Rejecting the U.S. government’s latest report on International Religious Freedom, which includes a chapter on India, the Ministry of External Affairs said it was based on “misinformation” and statements by officials were “motivated”. “We are aware of the release of the U.S. State Department 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom,” said MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi in a statement released on …

'Flawed understanding': Govt slams US report criticising India on religious freedom
1 year, 7 months ago

'Flawed understanding': Govt slams US report criticising India on religious freedom

India TV News  

India slams US report: The government on Tuesday rejected the report by the US State Department on religious freedom that criticised India for alleged attacks on minorities. "We are aware of the release of the US State Department 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom. A senior US official said far too many governments, including Russia, India, China and Saudi Arabia, …

US asks India to check ‘continued targeted attacks’ on minorities
1 year, 7 months ago

US asks India to check ‘continued targeted attacks’ on minorities

Al Jazeera  

State Department’s annual report on religious freedom lists attacks on Muslims and Christians in the world’s most populous nation. The US State Department on Monday released its annual report on religious freedom which listed attacks against religious minorities including Muslims and Christians in the world’s most populous nation. A senior US official, briefing journalists on the report on condition of …

U.S. releases religious freedom report, calls on India to condemn ‘persistent’ religious violence
1 year, 7 months ago

U.S. releases religious freedom report, calls on India to condemn ‘persistent’ religious violence

The Hindu  

The United States wants India to condemn persistent religious violence, a senior official said on May 15, one month before a State visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The State Department on May 15 released an annual report on religious freedom which listed attacks against religious minorities including Muslims and Christians in the billion-plus nation led by Mr. Modi's Hindu …

India criticises USCIRF report, calls it misrepresentation of facts
1 year, 7 months ago

India criticises USCIRF report, calls it misrepresentation of facts

The Hindu  

India on May 2 categorically rejected as "biased" and "motivated" a report by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom that alleged "severe violations" of religious freedom in the country. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the Commission continues to regurgitate such comments and India rejects the "misrepresentation of facts" which only serves to "discredit USCIRF itself". "The US …

U.S. commission seeks sanctions on Indian agencies over 'violation' of religious freedom
1 year, 7 months ago

U.S. commission seeks sanctions on Indian agencies over 'violation' of religious freedom

The Hindu  

A federal U.S. commission has urged the Biden administration to impose targeted sanctions on Indian Government agencies and officials responsible for “severe violations” of religious freedom in the country by freezing their assets. In its annual report on religious freedom, the USCIRF asked the U.S State Department to designate India as a “country of particular concern” on the status of …

US religious freedom panel again recommends India for blacklist
1 year, 7 months ago

US religious freedom panel again recommends India for blacklist

Al Jazeera  

For a fourth year, the independent body says India should be singled out for discrimination against Muslims and other groups. An independent commission in the United States has, for the fourth year in a row, recommended that India’s government, led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, be added to a religious freedom blacklist, saying that conditions in the country for religious …

US points at restrictions on freedom of expression in India
1 year, 9 months ago

US points at restrictions on freedom of expression in India

Live Mint  

The United States has urged India to uphold its human rights obligations and commitments, according to the 2022 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices released by the Biden Administration on March 20. The report cited significant human rights violations in India including alleged unlawful and arbitrary killings, challenges to freedom of press, interference with privacy, and violence targeting religious and …

How anti-India USCIRF pushes and promotes Christianity in the name of religious freedom
1 year, 9 months ago

How anti-India USCIRF pushes and promotes Christianity in the name of religious freedom

Firstpost  

In almost 25 years of its existence, USCIRF has had about 65 commissioners, of which the overwhelming majority exhibited hard-core Christian roots being associated as they were with some form of missionary activities or the other Indians have a typical way of looking at the West, including its approvals, recognitions and awards. The publication of the annual United States Commission …

Religious freedom, related human rights in India under threat: U.S. body
2 years, 1 month ago

Religious freedom, related human rights in India under threat: U.S. body

The Hindu  

Religious freedom and related human rights in India are under ongoing threat, the U. S. Commission for International Religious Freedom alleged on Tuesday in an unusual year-end update of the status of its assessment of religious freedom in the country. In its 2022 Annual Report early this year USCIRF recommended that the U. S. Department of State designate India as …

Religious freedom and related human rights in India are under threat: USCIRF alleges
2 years, 1 month ago

Religious freedom and related human rights in India are under threat: USCIRF alleges

ABP News  

Washington, Nov 22 : Religious freedom and related human rights in India are under ongoing threat, the US Commission for International Religious Freedom alleged on Tuesday in an unusual year-end update of the status of its assessment of religious freedom in the country. In its 2022 Annual Report early this year USCIRF recommended that the US Department of State designate …

Government calls U.S. body on religious freedom ‘biased’
2 years, 5 months ago

Government calls U.S. body on religious freedom ‘biased’

The Hindu  

The government on July 2 took aim once again at the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom over comments expressing “concerns” over the treatment of minorities, human rights advocates and media, which follow its report this year downgrading India’s ratings on religious freedom. Another comment by USCIRF Commissioner Stephen Schneck said that harassment of “human rights advocates, journalists, activists, and …

Delhi reacts to US’ concern for religious freedom in India
2 years, 5 months ago

Delhi reacts to US’ concern for religious freedom in India

Live Mint  

India has reacted to reports by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom on religious freedom in the country. Indian-American diplomat Rashad Hussain earlier said that the United States was concerned about religious communities in India. India’s official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, “We have seen the biased and inaccurate comments on India by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom. …

US reiterates concern for religious freedom in India
2 years, 5 months ago

US reiterates concern for religious freedom in India

Live Mint  

Stating that the United States is concerned about religious communities in India, US ambassador at large for international religious freedom Rashad Hussain has said that Washington is "directly dealing" with Indian officials to address the challenges. He was referring to the criticism that followed US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s remarks “about attacks on places and people of worship… in …

'Label India As Country of Particular Concern': What US Rep Ilhan Omar's Resolution on Human Rights Says
2 years, 6 months ago

'Label India As Country of Particular Concern': What US Rep Ilhan Omar's Resolution on Human Rights Says

News 18  

Minnesota’s Democrat congresswoman Ilhan Omar introduced a resolution in the US House of Representatives where she condemned India for its alleged human rights record. The congresswoman who created controversy after traveling to the Pakistan-occupied Kashmir earlier in April accused India of ‘violations of religious freedom’ and said ‘Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, Adivasis and other religious and cultural minorities were targeted’. …

Attacks on minorities in India ‘occurred throughout’ 2021, US state department report says
2 years, 6 months ago

Attacks on minorities in India ‘occurred throughout’ 2021, US state department report says

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The US State Department’s annual …

'Unfortunate vote bank politics in international relations': India slams US report on religious freedom
2 years, 6 months ago

'Unfortunate vote bank politics in international relations': India slams US report on religious freedom

Firstpost  

The report alleged that India saw attacks on members of the minority communities, including killings, assaults, and intimidation throughout 2021 India on Friday responded to what it termed as “ill-informed comments” by senior US officials" on religious freedom in India and said it is unfortunate that vote bank politics is being practised in international relations. The remarks came in response …

‘Ill-informed comments’: India slams US report on religious freedom
2 years, 6 months ago

‘Ill-informed comments’: India slams US report on religious freedom

Live Mint  

The Indian government on Friday expressed its opposition to the recently released US state department’s annual report on international religious freedom, stating that the assessments are made based on biased views. “We have noted the release of US State Department 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom and ill-informed comments by senior US officials,” said the ministry of external affairs. This …

Some India officials ignoring or supporting religious attacks: US
2 years, 6 months ago

Some India officials ignoring or supporting religious attacks: US

Al Jazeera  

A top US official makes the remark during the release of a report on religious freedom globally in 2021. Some officials in India are ignoring or even supporting rising attacks on people and places of worship in the country, a United States official has said during the release of a report on religious freedom globally in 2021. “For example, in …

India decries ‘biased’ US report on religious freedom
2 years, 6 months ago

India decries ‘biased’ US report on religious freedom

Al Jazeera  

India defends its record on religious tolerance after US report accused officials of supporting attacks on minority worshippers. Washington’s annual report on religious freedom around the world contained a rare – if indirect – criticism of New Delhi, its emerging ally, on Thursday, documenting incendiary comments by Indian public officials and accounts of discrimination against Muslims and Christians in India. …

China a ‘glaring example’ of religious repression, US says
2 years, 6 months ago

China a ‘glaring example’ of religious repression, US says

Al Jazeera  

US Department of State slams China for committing ‘genocide’ against Uighurs in annual report on global religious freedom. China provides a “glaring example” of how governments are cracking down on religious minorities, a US official has said, as the Department of State released its annual report on religious freedom around the world. Rashad Hussain, the US ambassador-at-large for international religious …

The changing contours of Hinduism
2 years, 7 months ago

The changing contours of Hinduism

The Hindu  

In its zeal to homogenise Hinduism and make it bear electoral dividends, the Sangh Parivar has sown the seeds of a neo-Hinduism wherein Hindus are called upon to worship a single deity and practise the same rituals across the nation. USCIRF report Disturbingly, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has recommended in its latest report that India be …

India’s designation by the USCIRF
2 years, 7 months ago

India’s designation by the USCIRF

The Hindu  

The story so far: In its 2022 Annual report, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has recommended that India be designated a ‘Country of Particular Concern’, i.e., the category of governments performing most poorly on religious freedom criteria. According to the IRFA, commissioners are “selected among distinguished individuals noted for their knowledge and experience in fields relevant to …

US panel calls on Biden to sanction India over sliding religious freedom under Modi
2 years, 7 months ago

US panel calls on Biden to sanction India over sliding religious freedom under Modi

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In its 2022 report, published on Monday, the bipartisan …

India, again, ‘Country of Particular Concern’ on religious freedom grounds, says U.S. Commission
2 years, 7 months ago

India, again, ‘Country of Particular Concern’ on religious freedom grounds, says U.S. Commission

The Hindu  

Saying religious freedom conditions in India had “significantly worsened“ in 2021, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, a bipartisan, independent body, recommended, for the third year in a row, that India be designated a ‘Country of Particular Concern’, i.e., the category of governments performing most poorly on religious freedom criteria. The State Department, which has its own Office …

Religious freedom in India ‘significantly worsened’: US panel
2 years, 8 months ago

Religious freedom in India ‘significantly worsened’: US panel

Al Jazeera  

For third straight year, US commission recommends adding India to religious freedom blacklist over alleged abuses. The state of religious freedom in India “significantly worsened” last year, a United States panel has said, calling for targeted sanctions against the country over alleged abuses. In its annual report released on Monday, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom urged the State …

Aakar Patel | India likely to stay on US list of ‘concern’ on human rights
2 years, 8 months ago

Aakar Patel | India likely to stay on US list of ‘concern’ on human rights

Deccan Chronicle  

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom, or USCIRF, is an independent and bipartisan US federal government agency. The USCIRF recommended that the US government “impose targeted sanctions on Indian government agencies and officials responsible for severe violations of religious freedom by freezing those individuals’ assets and/or barring their entry into the United States under human rights-related financial and …

Explained | What is the U.S. Office of International Religious Freedom?
2 years, 10 months ago

Explained | What is the U.S. Office of International Religious Freedom?

The Hindu  

Ambassador-at-Large of the U.S. Office of International Religious Freedom Rashad Hussain on Friday, commenting on the hijab-related controversy in Karnataka, said the hijab ban in schools violate religious freedom. On the CAA protests, the then Ambassador-at-Large Sam Brownback had stated that he hoped the government would “abide by its constitutional commitments, including on religious freedom.” The office’s annual report on …

Q&A: ‘Religious freedom conditions in India greatly concerning’
3 years, 1 month ago

Q&A: ‘Religious freedom conditions in India greatly concerning’

Al Jazeera  

Al Jazeera speaks to US Commission on International Religious Freedom chair Nadine Maenza on deteriorating religious freedom in India and how Biden administration should address it. The current USCIRF chair Nadine Maenza, who earlier served as a commissioner and vice-chair of the commission and has been vocal against the deteriorating religious freedom situation in India, spoke to Al Jazeera about …

US commission: Put India, Russia on religious freedom blacklist
3 years, 8 months ago

US commission: Put India, Russia on religious freedom blacklist

Al Jazeera  

The annual report offers recommendations to presidents and Congress on religious freedom and foreign policy. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom, an independent government panel that gives recommendations to presidential administrations and Congress, said the four countries should be designated as “countries of particular concern” on the State Department list, which currently includes Myanmar, China, Eritrea, Iran, Nigeria, North …

US refuses to list India as country violating religious freedom of minorities
4 years ago

US refuses to list India as country violating religious freedom of minorities

Op India  

The US State Department has rejected the recommendation of the controversial United States Commission on International Religious Freedom to include India in the list of countries of particular concern for alleged violation of religious freedom. In response to a question as to why Pakistan was included in the CPC list and India was not, the US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious …

US government places Pakistan, China in the list of 10 countries of concern for violation of religious freedom
4 years ago

US government places Pakistan, China in the list of 10 countries of concern for violation of religious freedom

Op India  

On December 7, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced that the United States of America had designated Pakistan, China and eight other nations as ‘Countries of Particular Concern’ for violation of religious freedom. These annual designations show that when religious freedom is attacked, we will act.” Entities of Particular Concern The US has listed ISIS, al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir …

Modi’s India should be on the US’s religious freedom blacklist
4 years, 6 months ago

Modi’s India should be on the US’s religious freedom blacklist

Al Jazeera  

Only strong pressure from the US can stop the Indian government from further eroding religious freedom in the country. The report’s 27-page chapter on India is a scathing indictment of the sharp decline in religious freedom in the South Asian country under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s watch. Noting that there have been reports of “religiously motivated killings, assaults, riots, discrimination, …

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