{"id":18011,"date":"2023-06-27T19:21:18","date_gmt":"2023-06-27T18:21:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/?p=17334"},"modified":"2023-10-13T08:25:27","modified_gmt":"2023-10-13T07:25:27","slug":"what-we-are-seeing-in-india-is-a-religious-freedom-crisis-human-rights-advocates-call-for-end-to-religious-persecution-in-india-following-modis-visit-to-us","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/news\/what-we-are-seeing-in-india-is-a-religious-freedom-crisis-human-rights-advocates-call-for-end-to-religious-persecution-in-india-following-modis-visit-to-us","title":{"rendered":"\u201cWhat we are seeing in India is a religious freedom crisis\u201d\u2014Human rights advocates call for end to religious persecution in India following Modi\u2019s visit to US"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"18011\" class=\"elementor elementor-18011\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3ef06577 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3ef06577\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-862ba01\" data-id=\"862ba01\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-c96d73e elementor-icon-list--layout-traditional elementor-list-item-link-full_width elementor-widget elementor-widget-icon-list\" data-id=\"c96d73e\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"icon-list.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul class=\"elementor-icon-list-items\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\"><b>Violence against Christians and other religious minorities in India has escalated over recent years with dramatic upticks in 2022 and 2023.<\/b><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<li class=\"elementor-icon-list-item\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-icon\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<i aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"fas fa-angle-right\"><\/i>\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-icon-list-text\"><b>ADF International is actively engaged in efforts to protect the human right to religious freedom for the people of India.<\/b><\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/li>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/ul>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-e2b0c12 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"e2b0c12\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">WASHINGTON, DC<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"><b> (27 June 2023)<\/b> India\u2019s human rights record is in the spotlight with Prime Minister, Narendra Modi\u2019s state visit to Washington D.C. last week. The visit, including an address to Congress, has prompted international religious freedom advocates to speak out on behalf of persecuted religious minorities in India. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Violence against Christians and other religious minorities in India has escalated over recent years, with dramatic upticks in 2022 and 2023, most recently in the northeast state of Manipur. Laws and policies at the national and state level severely hinder and restrict the liberties of minority religious groups in India, allowing for the harassment and targeted discrimination of minority religious groups by radical mobs throughout the country.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cWhat we are seeing in India is a religious freedom crisis,\u201d said Sean Nelson, legal counsel for Global Religious Freedom for ADF International. \u201cChristians and other religious minorities are systemically targeted in India by radical Hindu nationalist mobs, who carry out widespread violence and harassment with impunity. No person should be persecuted, harassed, or killed for simply living out their faith. The government of India should work to put an end to the violence and reform any laws that <\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">restrict freedom of religion and implicitly encourage such violence<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. P<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">resident Biden and other world leaders should speak clearly about the deteriorating religious freedom conditions in India and encourage the Indian government to work to reverse this trend<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201d.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\" style=\"\">Mass Chaos in Manipur&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\" style=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In May 2023, a violent clash between two ethnic communities erupted in <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.bbc.com\/news\/world-asia-india-65679616\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Manipur<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. The clash was a result of an ongoing conflict between Manipur\u2019s largely Hindu Meitei and largely Christian Kuki tribes, although the minority of Meiteis who are Christian have also been targeted. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">From May 3<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">rd<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to May 6<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">th<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">, large scale violence, looting and arson resulted in the loss of at least 100 lives, over 400 people injured, and left tens of thousands displaced from their homes. Religious symbols and places of worship were heavily targeted, with <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscirf.gov\/news-room\/uscirf-spotlight\/violence-against-tribal-christians-manipur-india\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">reports<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> showing that over 250 churches were burned down or damaged. The state government failed to contain and subdue the violent situation in Manipur; the military was only deployed a few days after the first riots to prevent further violence and destruction. For the most part, it is aid organisations and volunteers who are assisting the victims on the ground, where the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.newindianexpress.com\/nation\/northeast\/2023\/jun\/23\/fresh-firing-in-manipur-as-violence-continues-2587881.html\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">violence is continuing today<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">. The government has offered small <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.telegraphindia.com\/north-east\/government-announces-compensation-package-for-those-killed-in-manipur-clashes\/cid\/1940709\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">compensation<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> to those whose family members have been killed by the violence, but no compensation offers have been made for those who have lost their homes, businesses, or have been injured during the violent attacks.&nbsp;&nbsp; <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cIn many cases, the mob has burned a church or house belonging to a Meitei Christian but has not damaged their neighbor\u2019s door if they are not a Christian. Christians are facing hostility by the Meiteis on the basis that they are Christians,\u201d explained a human rights lawyer and ally of ADF International, who is setting up emergency hotlines on the ground to offer help to those affected. The lawyer, whose name has been withheld for safety purposes, continued \u201cThe people are deeply shocked. Through our work, we want to help stop the violence in Manipur, protect religious institutions, allow Christians to practice their faith freely and facilitate compensation for survivors.\u201d <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\" style=\"\">Background&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\" style=\"\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Religious freedom conditions in India have worsened in recent years. <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscirf.gov\/release-statements\/uscirf-releases-new-report-indias-state-level-anti-conversion-laws\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Laws<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> at the local, state, and national levels, including anti-conversion laws, are discriminatory towards religious minorities, and contribute to a culture of unrest. These laws implicitly encourage mobs and vigilante groups to carry out violent campaigns, like those seen in Manipur and at the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/mattersindia.com\/2023\/03\/114-year-old-christian-hospital-in-uttar-pradesh-faces-harassment\/\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Broadwell Christian Hospital<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> in Uttar Pradesh.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Laws like the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/report\/2010\/07\/27\/back-future\/indias-2008-counterterrorism-laws\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Unlawful Activities Prevention Act<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.hrw.org\/news\/2022\/07\/18\/sedition-law-why-india-should-break-britains-abusive-legacy\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Sedition Act<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> target religious freedom and expression. These laws suppress voices advocating for religious freedom through surveillance, harassment, demolition of property<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\">,<\/span><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> and detention. Under these laws, many lawyers, journalists, and religious minorities have been harassed, detained, and prosecuted.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">International religious freedom advocates, including USCIRF, have continually <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.uscirf.gov\/news-room\/releases-statements\/uscirf-urges-president-biden-raise-religious-freedom-concerns-during\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">spoken out<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> against the egregious and severe violations of religious freedom in India.&nbsp;<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">&nbsp;<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4443fd4 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"4443fd4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8310b80 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8310b80\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p>Images for free use in print or online in relation to this story only<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-bb424a0 elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"bb424a0\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;aspect_ratio&quot;:&quot;1:1&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;grid&quot;,&quot;columns&quot;:4,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:2,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:1,&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/ADF-Sean_Nelson_400x400-1.webp\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"bb424a0\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"ADF-Sean_Nelson_400x400-1\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6ODYyNywidXJsIjoiaHR0cHM6XC9cL2FkZmludGVybmF0aW9uYWwub3JnXC93cC1jb250ZW50XC91cGxvYWRzXC8yMDIyXC8wNlwvQURGLVNlYW5fTmVsc29uXzQwMHg0MDAtMS53ZWJwIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiYmI0MjRhMCJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/06\/ADF-Sean_Nelson_400x400-1.webp\" data-width=\"400\" data-height=\"400\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Violence against Christians and other religious minorities in India has escalated over recent years with dramatic upticks in 2022 and 2023. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":44,"featured_media":8686,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"give_campaign_id":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[11],"tags":[343,47,27],"class_list":["post-18011","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-freedom-of-religion","tag-india","tag-religious-freedom"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO Premium plugin v27.2 (Yoast SEO v27.2) - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-premium-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>\u201cWhat we are seeing in India is a religious freedom crisis\u201d\u2014Human rights advocates call for end to religious persecution in India following Modi\u2019s visit to US - ADF International<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Violence 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