India listed as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ for Minorities
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended designating India as a “Country of Particular Concern” (CPC) due to allegations of religious freedom violations. Additionally, the commission has suggested that the U.S. administration impose sanctions on India’s intelligence agency, the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), and a former intelligence officer, Vikash Yadav.
These recommendations came to light following the release of the commission’s annual report on Tuesday (March 25), local time.
According to international media reports, the commission made this recommendation to the U.S. administration, pointing out RAW’s involvement in the killings of Sikh separatists on foreign soil.
The report also highlights a deterioration in the safety situation for minorities in India.
Alongside India, the commission has also recommended including Vietnam in this list, citing increased control over religious activities in the country as the reason for the decision.
However, these recommendations are not binding on the U.S. administration. Despite this, the two countries mentioned in the report—India and Vietnam—are significant partners in Washington’s foreign policy.
Both India and Vietnam are working to strengthen ties with the United States due to shared concerns over China. As a result, experts have expressed skepticism about the effectiveness of these recommendations.
The USCIRF is a bipartisan U.S. government advisory body that monitors religious freedom abroad and provides various policy recommendations.
Analysts note that Washington views India as a counterweight to the influence of China, one of the world’s leading superpowers. Consequently, the U.S. tends to overlook India’s human rights issues.
Since the recommendations are not mandatory, analysts believe the likelihood of the U.S. imposing sanctions on RAW is low.
Since 2023, allegations of India’s involvement in activities against Sikh separatists in the U.S. and Canada have strained Washington-Delhi relations.
Washington has accused Vikash Yadav, a former Indian intelligence officer, of involvement in a failed attempt to assassinate a Sikh leader in the U.S., though India has denied these allegations. This issue has created tensions between the two nations.
Notably, India considers Sikh separatists a threat to national security.
According to the USCIRF report, the situation of religious freedom in India deteriorated throughout the past year. The report mentions an increase in attacks and discrimination against minorities during this period.
The commission has also alleged that during the last election, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), spread hate speech and misinformation against the country’s Muslim population and other religious minorities.
During the recent Lok Sabha election campaign, Modi referred to Muslims in India as “infiltrators.” Furthermore, the leader—who has been India’s Prime Minister for nearly 11 years—made comments claiming that “Muslims have more children.”
Various reports by the U.S. State Department on human rights and religious freedom have highlighted the persecution of minorities in India.
However, Modi has dismissed these reports as “biased,” stating that his government’s initiatives, such as electrification and subsidies in various sectors, have benefited people from all communities.
The USCIRF has recommended designating India as a “Country of Particular Concern” and imposing sanctions on RAW and its former officer Vikash Yadav, citing widespread violations of religious freedom in the country in recent times.
Human rights activists have stated that this recommendation was made in light of increasing hate speech against minorities, the revocation of the special status of Muslim-majority Kashmir, and the destruction of Muslim properties—actions deemed as human rights violations.
The Indian embassy in the U.S. did not immediately respond to these recommendations.
On the other hand, Vietnam recently issued a decree demanding financial records from various religious institutions, which the USCIRF has described as a “serious violation” of religious freedom.
Additionally, the commission highlighted the cases of approximately 80 prisoners who have been sentenced by the Vietnamese government for engaging in religious activities or advocating for religious freedom. For these reasons, Vietnam has also been recommended for designation as a “Country of Particular Concern.”
The Vietnamese embassy also did not immediately respond to the matter.
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