The US State Department has released its annual report on international religious freedom, drawing attention to the severe treatment of religious minorities in India and Pakistan.
India: Rising Violence Against Christians and Muslims
In India, the report highlights the alarming situation faced by Muslim and Christian communities. The “2023 Report on International Religious Freedom,” released on Wednesday, notes widespread discriminatory behavior against these groups.
In February, 20,000 Christians protested in New Delhi against increasing violence. In March, 93 former senior government officials wrote an open letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, expressing concerns over the persistent harassment of Christians by political party leaders. The report by the US details incidents where Christians and Muslims were arrested under anti-conversion laws and faced harassment based on false allegations.
“Christians and Muslims were arrested under laws banning forced religious conversions, which religious groups said in some cases were used to harass and imprison members of religious minority groups on false and fabricated charges or for lawful religious practices,” the report states. It also mentions that local police, at times, aided mobs in disrupting worship services or stood by while mobs attacked Christians and then arrested the victims on conversion charges.
The report reveals a troubling increase in violent incidents against Christians across India. Actions and statements by BJP members often contradicted positive statements from government officials. International NGOs like Human Rights Watch have urged the Indian government to investigate and prosecute those responsible for violence against minority groups.
The National Crime Records Bureau reported 272 incidents of communal violence in 2022, with attacks on minorities, including murder and threats, occurring across various Indian states.
US officials have consistently expressed concerns about religious freedom issues with their Indian counterparts.
Pakistan: Blasphemy Accusations and Sectarian Violence
In Pakistan, the situation is equally alarming. In 2023, 329 individuals were accused of blasphemy, with 75% being Muslims, 20% Ahmadis, and 3.3% Christians. The Federal Investigation Agency arrested 140 people over blasphemy allegations on social media, with 11 sentenced to death and two of these sentences confirmed by higher courts.
The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority reduced Wikipedia’s services due to blasphemous content, and social media platforms blocked over 71,000 URLs at the government’s request. In August, the Senate passed legislation increasing the penalties for blasphemy.
Violent attacks by armed sectarian groups targeted religious gatherings and buildings. These attacks victimized members of the Hindu, Christian, Ahmadi, Sikh, Sunni, and Shia communities. In 2023, at least 16 individuals, including seven Shias, four Sikhs, three Christians, one Hindu, and one Ahmadi, were killed because of their faith.
On December 29, 2023, the Secretary of State redesignated Pakistan as a Country of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act for severe violations of religious freedom. Pakistan has been under this designation since 2018.
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