The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is calling on the Biden administration to designate the government of India as one of the world's worst violators of religious freedom. In a recent press release, USCIRF expressed alarm over India's escalating transnational targeting of religious minorities and those advocating for their rights.

The commission, established by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act, monitors the global right to freedom of religion or belief. USCIRF has raised concerns about the Indian government's efforts to silence activists, journalists, and lawyers abroad, posing a serious threat to religious freedom.

Rabbi Abraham Cooper, USCIRF's chair, previously stated that India is caught in a "cycle of downward spiral" concerning religious discrimination, characterizing the situation as frightening. The commission pointed out that Indian authorities have utilized spyware and online harassment campaigns to intimidate activists and journalists advocating for religious minorities.

The U.S. Department of Justice recently alleged the involvement of an "Indian government employee" in a thwarted plot to assassinate the leader of a Sikh separatist movement. USCIRF also noted accusations against the Indian government in the killing of Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada.

Commissioner Stephen Schneck expressed deep concern over the signs of religious persecution, emphasizing the severe escalation of India's efforts to silence religious minorities and human rights defenders globally. USCIRF called on the Biden administration to recognize India's perpetration of severe religious freedom violations and designate it as a "Country of Particular Concern" (CPC), a classification for nations engaged in or tolerating particularly severe violations of religious freedom.

David Curry, another USCIRF commissioner, highlighted the Indian government's use of draconian legislation to crackdown systematically on religious minorities, journalists, and activists. He urged the U.S. government to actively engage with Indian officials and international partners to ensure the safety and freedom of expression for religious minorities in India and abroad.