US Commission Urges Sanctions Over India's Declining Religious Freedom in 2025
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has called for stronger action against India over worsening religious freedom conditions. In its latest report, the commission recommends that the US government tie trade and aid policies to improvements in India's treatment of religious minorities.
The report highlights a series of concerns, including new laws and rising anti-Muslim violence in 2025. USCIRF has also urged the US to designate India as a 'country of particular concern' for severe violations of religious freedom.
The USCIRF report details several incidents and legal changes that it claims have worsened conditions for religious minorities in India. Among these is the controversial Waqf (Amendment) Bill, which allows non-Muslims to join boards overseeing Muslim-owned properties. The commission argues this move undermines the autonomy of Muslim institutions.
Anti-Muslim sentiment and attacks reportedly surged after the Pahalgam terror attack in 2025. The report also points to the arrests of activists like Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, who were detained under anti-terrorism laws for their roles in the 2020 protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). Additionally, USCIRF criticises the forced deportation of Rohingya refugees, including Christians, into international waters by Indian authorities.
The commission further condemns anti-conversion laws introduced in Maharashtra, Assam, Uttarakhand, and Rajasthan. These laws, it claims, restrict religious freedom and disproportionately target minority communities. USCIRF has proposed sanctions against organisations responsible for severe violations, including freezing their assets and barring their leaders from entering the US.
Despite these findings, no records indicate that the Trump administration took specific measures against India in response to the USCIRF's previous recommendations.
The USCIRF's latest report calls for concrete steps, including linking US assistance and trade policies to religious freedom improvements in India. It also reiterates the demand for India to be officially designated as a 'country of particular concern'. The recommendations now await a response from US policymakers.
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