The Somali-American US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives, condemning violations of human rights and religious freedom in India including the targeting of Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, Adivasis, and other minorities.
The resolution called upon the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken to designate India as a “country of particular concern” under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 and the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016.
The resolution expressed grave concern about the worsening treatment of religious minorities in India.
The resolution was also co-sponsored by lawmakers Rashida Talib and Juan Vargas.
The resolution was based on the findings of the report by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) that recommended the US Government to designate India as a country of particular concern.
“In 2021, religious freedom conditions in India significantly worsened. During the year, the Indian government escalated its promotion and enforcement of policies—including those promoting a Hindu-nationalist agenda that negatively affect Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, and other religious minorities,” the report said.
The USCIRF report also noted that the Indian government “continued to systemize its ideological vision of a Hindu state at both the national and state levels through the use of both existing and new laws and structural changes hostile to the country’s religious minorities.”
“In 2021, the Indian government repressed critical voices — especially religious minorities and those reporting on and advocating for them — through harassment, investigation, detention, and prosecution under laws such as the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA) and the Sedition Law,” the report highlighted.
Featured image by Gage Skidmore