A US government advisory body has called on Washington to pressure India over attacks on religious minorities. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) cited a surge in violence against Christians and Muslims. It said Hindu nationalist mobs were targeting people over alleged forced conversions.
USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler highlighted a recent Odisha incident where Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik was attacked during Sunday prayers. The mob accused him of conversion, dragged him outside, and forced him to eat cow dung. Hartzler said such attacks underscore the need to hold perpetrators accountable.
Read more: US officials warn on India’s treatment of minorities
The commission cited other incidents across India. In Maharashtra, homes of four Christian families were demolished for refusing to renounce faith. In Andhra Pradesh, a minibus carrying Christians was attacked, set on fire, and passengers beaten with cricket bats and stones. In Chhattisgarh, a mob burned several Muslim homes over temple desecration claims.
Vice Chair Asif Mahmood said anti-conversion laws are often misused to justify violence and arbitrary arrests. He noted that in Uttar Pradesh, 12 Muslim men were arrested for praying in a private home. Some states allow life sentences for violations under these laws, increasing the risk of abuse.
Read more: US questions persecution of minorities in India
USCIRF urged the US Department of State to designate India a Country of Particular Concern. The commission cited “systematic, ongoing, and egregious” violations of religious freedom. India has rejected such criticism, calling it biased and an interference in domestic affairs.