The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recently advised to enlist India in the ‘Countries of Particular Concern’ (CPCs) for the second consecutive year due to supposed violations of religious liberties in 2021. This recommendation follows a stern report by the US State Department on human rights in India during the same year.
About USCIRF
Established in 1998 following the International Religious Freedom Act, USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan federal commission of the US government. Its purpose is to champion the universal right to religious freedom beyond US borders. Primarily, it serves as an advisory body to the US Congress and its headquarters is in Washington D.C. Notably, its recommendations are not binding on the state department. India has historically disregarded USCIRF’s outlook.
Main Elements of the 2022 USCIRF Report
The USCIRF’s annual report for 2022 suggests measures to augment the U.S. government’s advocacy of international religious freedom. The focus of the report mainly lies on two categories of countries.
Firstly, the ‘Country of Particular Concern’ which refers to nations involved in severe infringements of religious freedom, as identified by the US Secretary of State under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998. The second category is the ‘Special Watch List’ which includes countries that don’t fulfil all CPC standards but nevertheless endure or permit severe violations of religious freedom.
Additionally, the report incorporates suggestions for violent nonstate actors to be labelled as ‘Entities of Particular Concern’ by the US State Department, pursuant to the International Review of Financial Analysis. It also presents important worldwide trends and incidents related to religious freedom for the year 2021.
Latest Recommendations
Apart from India, countries earmarked for the CPC designation include Afghanistan, Nigeria, Syria, and Vietnam. On the other hand, Algeria, Cuba, Nicaragua, Azerbaijan, CAR, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Turkey, and Uzbekistan were suggested for the Special Watch List. Violent nonstate actors like Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, the Houthis, Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, Islamic State in the Greater Sahara, and Islamic State in West Africa Province, among others, are proposed as Entities of Particular Concern.
Concerns Raised Regarding India
The USCIRF report raises concerns about the perceived repression of critical voices by the Indian government, particularly those of minority communities. The arrest of rights activist Khuran Pervez in Kashmir and the demise of octogenarian Father Stan Swamy, who was arrested in October 2020 under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act 1967, were highlighted. It also discusses the issues faced by NGOs regarding foreign funding and the enforcement of anti-conversion laws.
Religious Freedom in India
In India, freedom of religion is a fundamental right upheld by Article 25-28 of the Constitution of India. These include the freedom of conscience, free profession, practice and propagation of religion, freedom to manage religious affairs, freedom from paying taxes for the promotion of any religion, and freedom relating to attendance at religious instruction or worship in certain educational institutions. Moreover, Articles 29 and 30 deal specifically with the protection of minority interests.
