US report on Religious Freedom 24/06/2019 – Posted in: Daily News
US REPORT ON RELIGIOUS FREEDOM
For: Mains
Topics covered: About US report and India’s Reply
News Flash
Newly published, the US state’s department’s annual report on religious freedom pointed out India’s failure to protect minority communities.
Ministry of External Affairs rejects U.S. report, saying India is a vibrant democracy, where the constitution provides protection of religious freedom, and where democratic governance and rule of law further promote and protect the fundamental rights.
- Secretary of State of the United States Mike Pompeo released the 2018 International Religious Freedom Report.
- The International Religious Freedom Report describes the status of religious freedom in every country.
According to Report
- Rise in religiously motivated killings, assaults, riots, discrimination, vandalism, and actions restricting the right of individuals to practice their religious beliefs and proselytize.
- MHA data shows, communal incidents increased by 9 percent from 2015 to 2017.
- Indian authorities often failed to prosecute perpetrators of “cow vigilante” attacks, which included killings, mob violence, and intimidation.
- According to the NGO Persecution Relief’s 2017 Annual Report released in January, there were 736 incidents of persecution against Christians in 2017 compared to 348 in 2016.
- Tradition and the social custom continued to deny entry to women and members of Dalit communities (former untouchables) into many places of worship.
- A rise in the number of Mob killings of Muslims in connection with cow slaughter.
- Apart from the murders and lynching by cow vigilante groups, the report pointed out that there were several attempts to undermine minority institutions and change the names of cities that reminded one of the pluralistic nature of India.
Complete details: https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/Tier2_INDIA_2019.pdf
Source: The Hindu
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