Now Reading: US body says religious freedom declining in India in 2026
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US body says religious freedom declining in India in 2026
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has alleged that religious freedom conditions in India continued on a downward trajectory in 2026, citing systematic persecution of minorities, internet shutdowns, and transnational…
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has alleged that religious freedom conditions in India continued on a downward trajectory in 2026, citing systematic persecution of minorities, internet shutdowns, and transnational repression. In an update to its country brief, the bipartisan US body said Hindu nationalist mob violence occurs with impunity and that authorities detain individuals for exercising their beliefs, naming activists Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam among those imprisoned under anti-terror laws.
India has repeatedly rejected the USCIRF's findings. External affairs ministry spokesman Randhir Jaiswal called the organisation biased and lacking credibility, saying on August 22 that it does not engage with India's pluralistic framework. The USCIRF also alleged denial of citizenship and voting rights and enforcement of harsh anti-conversion and cow slaughter laws against Christians, Dalits, Muslims and Sikhs.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The USCIRF has placed India on its 'Countries of Particular Concern' list since 2020, a designation that can trigger US sanctions though none have been imposed. India's rejection of the report is consistent with its long-standing position that foreign assessments of its internal affairs are unwarranted. The practical impact of the USCIRF's update is limited: it carries no binding authority but influences US congressional opinion and visa policy. The next key signal will be the US State Department's own annual report on religious freedom, expected in mid-2026, which carries more diplomatic weight.
Source: rediff.com
This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
