The US Commission has recommended that India be included in the list of countries violating religious freedom

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom has recommended that India be re-designated as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ because of the Modi government's policies and treatment towards the Muslim population, The News reported on Wednesday.

"Perhaps the steepest, and most alarming deterioration in religious freedom conditions is in India," the vice chair of the USCIRF vice said after the release of the Commission's annual report.

The report also recommended 13 other countries to the State Department for designation as "countries of particular concern" because their governments engage in or tolerate "systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom".

These include nine that the State Department designated as CPCs in December last year, which were Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan. The five others include India, Nigeria, Russia, Syria, and Vietnam.

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'Act exposes millions of Muslims to detention, deportation'

"The Citizenship (Amendment) Act in India potentially exposes millions of Muslims to detention, deportation, and statelessness when the government completes its planned nationwide National Register of Citizens," the Commission's Vice-Chair, Nadine Maenza, added.

Detailing Modi government's policies in recent months that targeted Muslim population in particular, the report featured hateful comments made by various BJP leaders against the minority Muslim population.

The United States government uses punitive measures directed at government agencies and officials responsible for grave breaches of religious freedom by seizing those property and/or government agencies and officials responsible For serious breach of religious liberty by confiscation of personal property and/or obstruction their entry into the United States under human rights-related financial and visa authorities, citing specific religious freedom violations.

The USCIRF Commissioner appreciated Pakistan's efforts saying, "One of the things that has been important for us with Pakistan is that the government has been willing to engage in dialogue about how religious freedom concerns can be addressed."

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Kuwait calls for preserving rights of Indian Muslims

Instead of using its own "Tier 2" category, as in past reports, the 2020 Annual report also recommended 15 countries for placement on the State Department's Special Watch List for severe violations. These include four that the State Department placed on that list last year.

In a related development, Kuwait called on the Organisation of International Cooperation to take 'urgent measures' to preserve rights of Indian Muslims.

Kuwait has sought the intervention of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) to tackle anti-Muslim sentiment in India.

The Kuwait General Secretary made the statement on Monday to take "necessary and urgent measures" to "preserve the rights of Muslims there"

'Time for Muslims to speak up'

Abdullah, Awqaf minister, and Kuwait's Islamic organization said via the Internet that it was time for Muslims to speak out against the persecution of their religious followers.
Those who violate the rights of Muslims, and those who commit massive crimes against Muslims in India, think that the Muslims of the world will remain silent on these crimes and not, legally, and economically against them?" he said.

The statement said after the comments last month that Kuwait had raised concerns about his treatment. of Muslims in the country.

In February, riots erupted in the Indian capital Delhi, killing dozens of people, mostly Muslims, targeted by Hindu nationalists.

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Muslims being targeted across India

The riots follow the passage of Narendra Modi's controversial Indian citizenship law, which does not exclude Muslims and violates secular principles in India.

Initially, the Delhi Police did not intervene as the group, armed with swords and rifles, set fire to property and vehicles. Muslims have also been the subject of widespread conspiracy theories in India over the spread of the virus.

Published in interviews with members of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), while the Indian government is accused of helping Muslims spread the virus in New Delhi last month. describing the gathering as "corona terrorism".

Fake video clips allegedly showing Muslims slapping security officials caused the hashtag "Corona Jihad" to spread on Twitter, even though the videos were exposed.