U.S. International Religious Freedom Report commends India's efforts in improving religious freedom

In its sixth Annual Report on International Religious Freedom, the US State Department has heavily slammed Burma, China, Iran, North Korea and Sudan and has added Saudi Arabia, Eritrea and Vietnam to its list of “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPCs) for severe violations of religious freedom but has commended India’s efforts toward “significant improvement in the protection and promotion" of religious freedom.

The annual report to Congress, mandated by the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, aims to "examine barriers to religious freedom, note countries where religious freedom conditions have improved, and describe U.S. actions to promote international religious freedom."

Besides India, other nations commended in the report are Afghanistan, Georgia, Turkey and Turkmenistan.
In addition to the "Countries of Particular Concern," the report, that was released by Secretary of State Colin Powell, identifies many countries that restrict religious freedom through: totalitarian or authoritarian actions to control religious belief or practice, state hostility toward minority or non–approved religions, state neglect of societal discrimination against or persecution of minority religions, discriminatory legislation or policies prejudicial to certain religious, and denouncing certain religions by affiliating them with dangerous "cults" or "sects."

The Executive Summary of the International Religious Freedom Report released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor stated that in India, “the status of religious freedom improved in a number of ways, yet problems remain in some areas.”

“During most of the period covered by this report, the central Government was led by a coalition called the National Democratic Alliance. The leading party in the coalition was the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a Hindu nationalist party with links to Hindu extremist groups that have been implicated in violent acts against Christians and Muslims,” it stated. “The BJP–led government sometimes did not act effectively to counter societal attacks against religious minorities and attempts by state and local governments to limit religious freedom. This failure resulted in part from the legal constraints inherent in the country's federal structure, and in part from shortcomings in the law enforcement and justice systems.”

“Tensions between Muslims and Hindus, and to an extent between Christians and Hindus, were a problem. Attacks on religious minorities occurred in several states,” it continued. “Some extremists saw ineffective investigation and prosecution of attacks on religious minorities as signals that such violence could be committed with impunity.”

The report noted that though there were anti–conversion laws in several states in India, yet, “in late May, a new coalition, the United Progressive Alliance, came to power and pledged to respect the country's traditions of secular government and religious tolerance, and to pay particular attention to the rights of religious minorities.”

It noted that three of the most important politicians in India were members of religious minority communities – Manmohan Singh, a Sikh, became the first member of a religious minority to be prime minister whereas President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam is a Muslim and the president of the ruling Congress party, Sonia Gandhi, is a Christian.

US officials have continued to discuss with state officials the implementation and reversal of anti–conversion laws brought into focus during the NDA rule. Embassy officials continued an active programme of outreach and engagement with leaders of the country's Muslim communities.

The US consulate in Chennai organized a roundtable to promote better understanding among the Hindu, Muslim, Christian and Buddhist communities. The consulate also continues to reach out to the Muslim community through Iftar dinners and the International Visitor/Madrassa programmes.

Human rights groups and others suggested that the NDA government's inadequate response to acts of violence against religious minorities was due at least in part to links between hardline groups and the ruling BJP during much of the period covered by this report.
The BJP–led government, which previously campaigned on a Hindutva platform, subsequently adopted more inclusive rhetoric regarding minorities and took some steps to contain violence.

Attacks on religious minorities occurred in several states, which brought into question the government's ability to prevent sectarian and religious violence. However, some improvements were observed during the period covered by this report.

While progress in the Gujarat justice process took place under the BJP–led government, the election of the UPA government encouraged human rights groups to demand further prosecution of the remaining perpetrators of the Gujarat violence of 2002.
Violence and discrimination against Muslims and Christians continued in other parts of the country, the report said. To date there have been no prosecutions of any of those responsible for religiously motivated killing and destruction in other parts of the country.

The report said the US government discusses religious freedom issues with the Indian government in the context of its overall policy to promote human rights.

During meetings with important leaders of all of the significant minority communities, US officials discussed reports of ongoing harassment of minority groups, converts, and missionaries.