Washington, DC – The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC), an advocacy group dedicated to safeguarding India’s constitutional values of pluralism and tolerance, today welcomed the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom’s (USCIRF) designation of India as a Country of Particular Concern for the third consecutive year. Such a designation for India, a land with a rich heritage of pluralism and religious diversity, while deeply saddening for Indians worldwide, was widely expected, given the rapidly escalating persecution of religious minorities and the Indian government’s complicity in massive violations of religious freedom.

According to the report, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and affiliated Hindu extremist groups have “advocated, instituted, and enforced sectarian policies seeking to establish India as an overtly Hindu state… at grave danger to India’s religious minorities.”

The report has further condemned the numerous attacks on Muslims and Christians in 2021, pointing out that “many of these incidents were violent, unprovoked, and/or encouraged or incited by government officials.”

“IAMC commends USCIRF for refusing to cave to the lobbying of US-based right-wing Hindu nationalist groups and making clear that the ground reality of minorities in India is of constant harassment and violence,” said Rasheed Ahmed, Executive Director of IAMC.

“Given the damning information presented in this report, US State Department officials must now act on the recommendations made by USCIRF by officially designating India as a CPC and by imposing targeted sanctions upon the Indian government to hold officials responsible for encouraging hate,” said Syed Afzal Ali, President of IAMC.