US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has stated that there has been a worrying increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, and destruction of homes and places of worship for minority faith communities in India.
On Wednesday, during the release of the annual State Department report on international religious freedom, Blinken mentioned that people worldwide are simultaneously making efforts to safeguard religious freedom.
In 2023, the report indicated that high-ranking US officials persisted in expressing concerns about religious freedom matters with their Indian counterparts.
"In India, we see a concerning increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolitions of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith communities. At the same time, people worldwide are also working hard to protect religious freedom," the secretary of state said.
According to the 2023 Report on International Religious Freedom, 10 out of 28 states in India have implemented laws restricting religious conversions for all faiths. Some of these states have also established penalties specifically targeting forced religious conversions for the purpose of marriage.
The report also noted that during the year, certain individuals from religious minority communities questioned the government's capacity and willingness to safeguard them from violence, probe crimes against members of religious minority groups, and uphold their freedom of religion or belief.
India has previously rejected the US State Department's annual human rights report on the country, saying it continues to be based on "misinformation and flawed understanding."
The US State Department, in its annual report, mentioned that laws prohibiting forced religious conversions have led to the arrest of both Christians and Muslims. According to religious groups, these laws have been misused to harass and imprison members of religious minority groups on false charges or for engaging in lawful religious practices.
The State Department also noted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has once again emphasized the need to implement a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) at the national level, as outlined in the Constitution, instead of having separate personal laws for different religious communities.
However, some Muslim, Sikh, Christian, and tribal leaders, along with certain state government officials, have opposed this initiative, arguing that it is linked to an effort to transform the country into a "Hindu Rashtra (a Hindu Nation)".
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