The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has recommended targeted sanctions against organisations including the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) in its latest annual report on global religious freedom.
The commission also designated India as a “country of particular concern,” citing alleged violations of religious freedom and urging the United States government to consider linking arms sales and trade policies with improvements in religious freedom conditions.
USCIRF Report Highlights Concerns
In its annual assessment, the USCIRF stated that conditions for religious freedom in India have “continued to deteriorate.” The report alleged that authorities have taken actions that disproportionately affect religious minorities and their places of worship.
The commission pointed to legislative developments in several states where anti-conversion laws have been introduced or strengthened, reportedly including harsher penalties. It also cited incidents involving detention or expulsion of citizens and refugees on religious grounds, as well as alleged vigilante attacks targeting minority communities.
Criticism of Specific Laws
The report also criticised certain legislative measures, including the Waqf (Amendment) Act, which proposes changes to the regulation of Islamic charitable endowments. The commission additionally referred to the Uttarakhand State Authority for Minority Education Act as part of broader concerns regarding minority rights.
According to the report, communal clashes reported in states such as Maharashtra, Odisha, and Uttar Pradesh were also highlighted. It cited alleged involvement of organisations such as the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, which is associated with the RSS.
Recommendations to the US Government
The USCIRF recommended that the US government apply stronger diplomatic pressure on India regarding religious freedom issues.
Among its proposals, the commission suggested that Washington consider invoking Section 6 of the Arms Export Control Act, which could potentially restrict arms sales to countries where serious human rights violations are reported.
The report also called for broader diplomatic engagement aimed at promoting protections for religious minorities.
India’s Previous Response
The Ministry of External Affairs in India has not yet issued a response to the latest report. However, the government has strongly rejected similar assessments from the USCIRF in previous years.
In earlier statements, the ministry described the commission’s reports as “biased” and “politically motivated,” arguing that they misrepresent isolated incidents and fail to recognise India’s pluralistic and multicultural society.
Officials have also emphasised that India is home to more than 1.4 billion people representing diverse religious communities, and that its constitutional framework guarantees freedom of religion.
In past disputes, India has denied visas to USCIRF delegations and criticised the commission’s comments on policies such as the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, introduced in 2019.
