India on Friday (June 28) rejected the United States (US) report on international religious freedom as "deeply biased" and lacking understanding of India's social dynamics.

India on Friday (June 28) rejected the United States (US) report on international religious freedom as "deeply biased" and lacking understanding of India's social dynamics. Addressing the press conference, Indian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said, "We have noted the release by the US State Department of its report on international religious Freedom for 2023." "As in the past, the report is deeply biased, lacks an understanding of India's social fabric, and is visibly driven by votebank considerations and a prescriptive outlook. We therefore reject it," Jaiswal said. The criticism Jaiswal criticised the report for its "selective use of facts" and reliance on biased sources. The foreign ministry spokesperson pointed out that the report questioned the validity of Indian laws and regulations, including those aimed at monitoring financial flows and ensuring compliance, which New Delhi sees as essential for national security. "The report has also targeted regulations that monitor the misuse of financial flows into India, suggesting that the burden of compliance is unreasonable. It seeks to question the need for such measures," he said. Breaking: India slams US International Religious Freedom report. Calls it biased, driven by vote bank politics. @MEAIndia @randhir_jk : pic.twitter.com/Gd8A0C4CJS — Sidhant Sibal (@sidhant) June 28, 2024 × "In 2023, India has officially taken up numerous cases in the US of hate crimes, racial attacks on Indian nationals and other minorities, vandalisation and targeting of places of worship, violence, and mistreatment by law enforcement authorities, as well as according to political space to advocates of extremism and terrorism abroad," Jaiswal further said. What did the report say? The report on international religious freedom by the US State Department expressed worries regarding India's anti-conversion laws, incidents of hate speech, and alleged demolitions of residences and religious sites belonging to minority communities. Releasing the report earlier this week, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that at present, "governments around the world continue to target individuals, shutter places of worship, forcibly displace communities, and imprison people because of their religious beliefs." "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," Blinken added.

Deeply biased, lacks understanding...: India rejects US report on religious freedom

An annual American report on religious freedom has voiced concern over the targeted killing in Pakistan of Shia Muslims, including ethnic Hazaras, who are largely Shia, and Ahmadi Muslims in attacks believed to be driven by faith.

The US `2019 International Religious Freedom Report` that documents major instances of the violation of religious freedom across the world, released by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the State Department on Wednesday, said human rights activists reported numerous instances of societal violence related to allegations of blasphemy; of efforts by individuals to coerce religious minorities to convert to Islam; and of societal harassment, discrimination, and threats of violence directed at members of religious minority communities.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/our-stimulus-package-is-as-large-as-gdp-of-pakistan-india-tells-imran-khan-after-he-offers-help-305154">Also read:&nbsp;Our stimulus package is as large as GDP of Pakistan: India tells Imran Khan after he offers 'help'</a>

NGOs expressed concern about what they stated was an increasing frequency of attempts to kidnap, forcibly convert, and forcibly marry young women from religious minority communities, especially young Hindu and Christian women.

"There also continued to be reports of attacks on holy places, cemeteries, and religious symbols of Hindu, Christian, and Ahmadiyya minorities," the report added.

According to Ahmadi civil society organizations, the State Department said, Islamabad failed to restrict advertisements or speeches inciting anti-Ahmadi violence, despite this responsibility being a component of the NAP.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/cash-strapped-pakistan-wants-to-help-india-imran-offers-to-share-the-cash-transfer-programme-305114">Also read: Cash-strapped Pakistan wants to 'help' India, Imran offers to 'share the cash transfer programme'</a>

Civil society groups continued to express concerns about the safety of religious minorities.The report said that visiting US government officials met with minority community representatives, parliamentarians, human rights activists, and members of the federal cabinet to highlight concerns regarding the treatment of religious minority communities, the application of blasphemy laws, and other forms of discrimination on the basis of religion. But still no coercing action has been taken.

According to civil society reports, there were at least 84 individuals imprisoned on blasphemy charges, at least 29 of whom had received death sentences, as compared with 77 and 28, respectively, in 2018, the State Department said in the report.

NGOs expressed concern that authorities have often failed to intervene in instances of societal violence against religious minorities due to fear of the perpetrators, inadequate staff, or apathy.

"Perpetrators of societal violence and abuses against religious minorities often faced no legal consequences due to a lack of follow-through by law enforcement, bribes offered by the accused, and pressure on victims to drop cases.

In some cases of alleged kidnapping and forced conversions of young religious minority women, however, government authorities intervened to protect the alleged victim and ascertain her will," the report stated.

On November 9, the government opened a newly refurbished Sikh holy site, the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, along with a visa-free transit corridor for Sikh pilgrims traveling from India. However, minority religious leaders stated members of their communities continued to experience discrimination in public schools and tertiary education, which resulted in very few religious minority applicants competing and qualifying for private and civil service employment.

Pakistan is a well-known perpetrator of such human rights violations. On several occasions, it has promised to safeguard the interest of minority communities in the nation. However, continuing attacks on minorities narrate a different story.

Islamabad has been discriminating against its religious minorities. This is manifested in various forms of targeted violence, mass murders, extrajudicial killings, abduction, rapes, forced conversion to Islam, etc., making Pakistani Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Ahmadiyyas, and Shias the most persecuted minorities in the region.

An annual American report on religious freedom has voiced concern over the targeted killing in Pakistan of Shia Muslims, including ethnic Hazaras, who are largely Shia, and Ahmadi Muslims in attacks believed to be driven by faith.

An annual American report on religious freedom has voiced concern over the targeted killing in Pakistan of Shia Muslims, including ethnic Hazaras, who are largely Shia, and Ahmadi Muslims in attacks believed to be driven by faith. The US `2019 International Religious Freedom Report` that documents major instances of the violation of religious freedom across the world, released by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo at the State Department on Wednesday, said human rights activists reported numerous instances of societal violence related to allegations of blasphemy; of efforts by individuals to coerce religious minorities to convert to Islam; and of societal harassment, discrimination, and threats of violence directed at members of religious minority communities. Also read: Our stimulus package is as large as GDP of Pakistan: India tells Imran Khan after he offers 'help' NGOs expressed concern about what they stated was an increasing frequency of attempts to kidnap, forcibly convert, and forcibly marry young women from religious minority communities, especially young Hindu and Christian women. "There also continued to be reports of attacks on holy places, cemeteries, and religious symbols of Hindu, Christian, and Ahmadiyya minorities," the report added. According to Ahmadi civil society organizations, the State Department said, Islamabad failed to restrict advertisements or speeches inciting anti-Ahmadi violence, despite this responsibility being a component of the NAP. Also read: Cash-strapped Pakistan wants to 'help' India, Imran offers to 'share the cash transfer programme' Civil society groups continued to express concerns about the safety of religious minorities.The report said that visiting US government officials met with minority community representatives, parliamentarians, human rights activists, and members of the federal cabinet to highlight concerns regarding the treatment of religious minority communities, the application of blasphemy laws, and other forms of discrimination on the basis of religion. But still no coercing action has been taken. According to civil society reports, there were at least 84 individuals imprisoned on blasphemy charges, at least 29 of whom had received death sentences, as compared with 77 and 28, respectively, in 2018, the State Department said in the report. NGOs expressed concern that authorities have often failed to intervene in instances of societal violence against religious minorities due to fear of the perpetrators, inadequate staff, or apathy. "Perpetrators of societal violence and abuses against religious minorities often faced no legal consequences due to a lack of follow-through by law enforcement, bribes offered by the accused, and pressure on victims to drop cases. In some cases of alleged kidnapping and forced conversions of young religious minority women, however, government authorities intervened to protect the alleged victim and ascertain her will," the report stated. On November 9, the government opened a newly refurbished Sikh holy site, the Gurdwara Darbar Sahib, along with a visa-free transit corridor for Sikh pilgrims traveling from India. However, minority religious leaders stated members of their communities continued to experience discrimination in public schools and tertiary education, which resulted in very few religious minority applicants competing and qualifying for private and civil service employment. Pakistan is a well-known perpetrator of such human rights violations. On several occasions, it has promised to safeguard the interest of minority communities in the nation. However, continuing attacks on minorities narrate a different story. Islamabad has been discriminating against its religious minorities. This is manifested in various forms of targeted violence, mass murders, extrajudicial killings, abduction, rapes, forced conversion to Islam, etc., making Pakistani Hindus, Christians, Sikhs, Ahmadiyyas, and Shias the most persecuted minorities in the region.

US report on religious freedom blames Pakistan for targeted killing of minorities

A US report on religious freedom has voiced concerns over the treatment of minorities in China, especially to Uighurs of northwest Xinjiang province, Christians, Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, and Falun Gong practitioners.

The International Religious Freedom (IRF) Report, released by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, said that in China people have the freedom to practice a faith of their choice, but the state protection is limited to "normal religious activities" and it does not define "normal."

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/religious-freedom-severely-restricted-in-pakistan-uscirf-report-296733">Religious freedom severely restricted in Pakistan: USCIRF report</a> 
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It further said that the government of Xi Jinping "continued to exercise control over religion and restrict the activities and personal freedom of religious adherents that is perceived as threatening state or CCP interests", according to religious groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and international media reports.

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-slams-uscirf-which-accused-india-of-violating-religious-freedom-295662">India slams USCIRF which accused India of violating religious freedom</a>&nbsp;

Since 2017, Beijing has detained over a million Uighurs, ethnic Kazakhs, Hui, and members of other Islamic groups, as well as Uighur Christians, and sent them to in specially built or converted internment camps in Xinjiang, the report said.&nbsp;

In a lengthy section explaining China’s record, the State Department cited instances of people being arrested, sent to psychiatric wards, and physically abused because of their religious beliefs.&nbsp;

"The Chinese Communist Party is now ordering religious organizations to obey CCP leadership and infused communist doctrine into the teachings and practice of their faith," Pompeo said, in the press conference held to mark the report's release. &nbsp;

"The mass detentions of Uighurs in Xinjiang continues. So does the repression of Tibetans and Buddhists and Falun Gong and Christians."

This&nbsp;annual report has placed China under "country of particular concern"&nbsp;on religion since 1999.&nbsp;&nbsp;

A US report on religious freedom has voiced concerns over the treatment of minorities in China, especially to Uighurs of northwest Xinjiang province, Christians, Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, and Falun Gong practitioners.

A US report on religious freedom has voiced concerns over the treatment of minorities in China, especially to Uighurs of northwest Xinjiang province, Christians, Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, and Falun Gong practitioners. The International Religious Freedom (IRF) Report, released by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, said that in China people have the freedom to practice a faith of their choice, but the state protection is limited to "normal religious activities" and it does not define "normal." Also read | Religious freedom severely restricted in Pakistan: USCIRF report It further said that the government of Xi Jinping "continued to exercise control over religion and restrict the activities and personal freedom of religious adherents that is perceived as threatening state or CCP interests", according to religious groups, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and international media reports. Also read | India slams USCIRF which accused India of violating religious freedom Since 2017, Beijing has detained over a million Uighurs, ethnic Kazakhs, Hui, and members of other Islamic groups, as well as Uighur Christians, and sent them to in specially built or converted internment camps in Xinjiang, the report said. In a lengthy section explaining China’s record, the State Department cited instances of people being arrested, sent to psychiatric wards, and physically abused because of their religious beliefs. "The Chinese Communist Party is now ordering religious organizations to obey CCP leadership and infused communist doctrine into the teachings and practice of their faith," Pompeo said, in the press conference held to mark the report's release. "The mass detentions of Uighurs in Xinjiang continues. So does the repression of Tibetans and Buddhists and Falun Gong and Christians." This annual report has placed China under "country of particular concern" on religion since 1999.

US report voices concerns over minorities treatment in China

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Deeply biased, lacks understanding...: India rejects US report on religious freedom

US report on religious freedom blames Pakistan for targeted killing of minorities

US report voices concerns over minorities treatment in China