The US State Department has issued its annual report on international religious freedom, raising significant concerns about the treatment of religious minorities in India and Pakistan.
In India, the report highlights the challenges faced by Muslim and Christian communities. The “2023 Report on International Religious Freedom,” released on Wednesday, points to widespread discriminatory behavior against these groups.
In February, 20,000 Christians protested in New Delhi against escalating violence. In March, 93 former senior government officials wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, voicing concerns over the continuous harassment of Christians by political party leaders. The report details incidents where Christians and Muslims were arrested under anti-conversion laws and subjected to harassment based on false allegations.
“Christians and Muslims were arrested under laws banning forced religious conversions, which religious groups said were sometimes used to harass and imprison members of religious minority groups on false and fabricated charges or for lawful religious practices,” the report states.
“In some instances, Christian groups reported that local police assisted mobs in disrupting worship services over accusations of conversion activities or stood by while mobs attacked Christians and then arrested the victims on conversion charges.”
Violent incidents against the Christian community have been on the rise across India. The actions and statements of BJP members often contradicted the positive statements from government officials. The Indian government has been urged to investigate and take legal action against those responsible for violence against minority groups.
“International nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) such as Human Rights Watch (HRW) stated that the ‘actions and statements by members and supporters of his (Modi’s) BJP party [Bharatiya Janata Party] contradicted’ government officials’ positive statements. They further stated that the government should investigate and prosecute those responsible for violence against minority groups,” the report states.
The National Crime Records Bureau reported 272 incidents of communal violence in 2022. Attacks on minorities, including murder and threats, occurred across various Indian states.
“Attacks on members of religious minority groups, including killings, assaults, and intimidation, occurred in various states throughout the year, including cases of “cow vigilantism” based on allegations that Muslim men were participating in cow slaughter or trade in beef,” the report says.
US officials have continued to express concerns about religious freedom issues with their Indian counterparts.
329 Accused of Blasphemy in Pakistan in 2023
In Pakistan, the situation is equally concerning. In 2023, 329 individuals were accused of blasphemy, with 75% being Muslims, 20% Ahmadis, and 3.3% Christians.
The Federal Investigation Agency arrested 140 people over blasphemy allegations on social media, with 11 sentenced to death, and two of these sentences confirmed by higher courts.
