India on US ‘watch list’ on religious freedom (Lead)
August 13th, 2009 - 8:13 pm ICT by IANS ( 27 comments )By Arun Kumar
Washington, Aug 13 (IANS) Citing a “disturbing increase” in communal violence against religious minorities, particularly Christians in Orissa in 2008 and Muslims in Gujarat in 2002, a US body has placed India on its ‘watch list’ on religious freedom.
India earned the ‘watch list’ designation due to the “largely inadequate response” from the Indian government to protect the rights of religious minorities, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said in a statement.
“It is extremely disappointing that India, which has a multitude of religious communities, has done so little to protect and bring justice to its religious minorities under siege,” said Leonard Leo, USCIRF chair.
The bipartisan federal government commission’s India chapter “was released this week to mark the first anniversary of the start of the anti-Christian violence in Orissa”.
Other countries currently on the commission’s ‘watch list’ are Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Laos, the Russian Federation, Somalia, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Venezuela.
USCIRF said the murder of Swami Laxmananand Saraswati by Maoist rebels in Kandhamal in Orissa Aug 23 last year sparked a prolonged and destructive campaign targeting Christians, resulting in attacks against churches and individuals.
These attacks largely were carried out by individuals associated with “Hindu nationalist groups”, and resulted in at least 40 deaths and the destruction of hundreds of homes and dozens of churches, it said.
Tens of thousands were displaced and today many still remain in refugee camps, afraid to return home, it said.
“India’s democratic institutions charged with upholding the rule of law, most notably state and central judiciaries and police, have emerged as unwilling or unable to seek redress for victims of the violence. More must be done to ensure future violence does not occur and that perpetrators are held accountable,” Leo said.
Similarly, during the 2002 communal riots in Gujarat, India’s National Human Rights Commission found that the government not only failed to prevent the attacks against religious minorities, but that state and local officials aided and participated in the violence.
In both Orissa and Gujarat, court convictions have been infrequent, perpetrators rarely brought to justice and thousands of people remain displaced, USCIRF alleged.
The India chapter of the USCIRF said the deficiencies in investigating and prosecuting cases have resulted in a culture of impunity that gives members of vulnerable minority communities few assurances of their safety, particularly in areas with a history of communal violence, and little hope of perpetrator accountability.
The report asked the Obama administration to urge the Indian government to take new measures to promote communal harmony, protect religious minorities, and prevent communal violence.
(Arun Kumar can be contacted at arun.kumar@ians.in)
- US body accuses India of failing to protect minorities - Aug 13, 2009
- India placed on US 'watch list' on religious freedom - Apr 29, 2010
- Pakistani schools portray Hindus, minorities negatively: US study - Nov 10, 2011
- India slams US body's criticism on religious freedom - Aug 13, 2009
- Religious intolerance on rise in South Asia: Report - Jul 01, 2010
- India on religious freedom 'watch list': State Department avoids comment - Aug 15, 2009
- US gives India high marks on religious freedom - Nov 18, 2010
- Indian government respects religious freedom, but some states found wanting: US - Oct 27, 2009
- NGO holds hearing on Orissa's anti-Christian violence - Aug 22, 2010
- Christian nominee in Manipur minority commission hailed - Apr 21, 2011
- US asks Pakistan to punish killers of Hindus in Sindh - Nov 10, 2011
- Christmas celebrations pass off peacefully in Orissa - Dec 25, 2010
- Bush asked to raise religious freedom concerns with Manmohan Singh - Sep 23, 2008
- Apex court upbraids Orissa government on Kandhamal relief - Aug 12, 2011
- 27 US lawmakers demand entry ban on Modi - Aug 10, 2008
Tags: arun kumar, communal violence, democratic institutions, destructive campaign, government commission, gujarat, inadequate response, india chapter, indian government, international religious freedom, maoist, maoist rebels, nationalist groups, orissa, redress, refugee camps, religious communities, religious minorities, saraswati, uscirf
August 14th, 2009 at 2:04 am
The report and watch list is absolutly true.It wont stop in India thats the bitter truth.
August 15th, 2009 at 1:34 am
this is a very biased report.
many US allies like saudi arabia, pakistan etc have a very poor record of religious freedom of minorities, and so do many of the tinpot dictators that the US support. Instead all countries opposed to the actions of the US have been named in this report, like Cuba, Venezeula and Russia which are very secular and dont descriminated between religions and suprisingly India the largest and only functional demcracy in the whole of middle and south asia. I think this is just another right wing hatchet job like the Bush times. Sad that the advent of Omaba has not changed things for the better
August 16th, 2009 at 12:33 am
that doesnt mean india shouldnt be in the list!2002 riots about 2000 ppl cruely killed within 3-4 days!Kandahar was well planned for minority!
August 16th, 2009 at 5:10 am
Pakistan and all Islamic states should be top of the list, they haev never treated other religious minorities fairly, USA report = Oil Money Talking
Just 2 weeks ago in Pakistan many Christians were murdered, for year churches and temples destroyed in pakistan, yet Paki is not on the list.
USA get a life and Ibrahim get your facts straight.
August 16th, 2009 at 6:03 pm
its unfortunate that people like ibrahim dont get thier facts straight, Muslims all over the world have the poorest record i.e. Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Indoneasia, Malayasia etc. I could go on. Before putting india on the list all Muslim countires should be on there first.
August 16th, 2009 at 11:49 pm
we can see the impact of your anti-muslim mentality!But you cant change the truth Shree Ram!
August 17th, 2009 at 5:59 pm
Ibrahim - We can see the impact Islamic fundamantilist and Oil money can have on the Truth. Throw money and turn lies into truth.
August 19th, 2009 at 1:49 am
The report isn’t bribed or corrupted by islamic fundamentlist dear!This isnt India this is united states!!
August 20th, 2009 at 6:17 pm
Ibrahim you don’t need a genius to see US needs Oil and have favoured arabs / mulsims over others for a very long time and turned a blind eye to injustices. They will say and do anything to please them.
And people like you are always happy to jump on the bandwagon blindly.
August 21st, 2009 at 2:46 am
The United States International Religious Freedom organisition isnt “blind” but people like you have anti-muslim mentality who finds rope as “snake” !
August 21st, 2009 at 4:37 am
Everyone can see this is biased and a way to please the muslim world again… Islamic fundamantilism is a fact but US is shying away from the topic and diverting attention from the Arab Nation including Pakistan.
August 23rd, 2009 at 5:09 pm
I dont agree with that!1947 about 2 million minorities killed in India including Sikh and Muslims,anti-sikh riots-1500 sikhs killed by Hindus,1992 Mosque demolished by Hindus and there after anti-muslim riots!2002 Gujerat riots killed hundreds of Muslims (including pregnent women and children) within 3 days,now Kandahar riots against christians!I think thats enough for a watch list!isnt it?
August 24th, 2009 at 9:34 pm
Ibrahim - its funny you say 2 million killed in India - how many millions killed, raped, murdered in Pakistan and Bangladesh. How may millions temples destroyed over the last 700 years. Its typical of people like you only look at the story from Muslim side - if your own view is biased ofcourse you will agree with what is said in this report. Muslim have killed Hindus, Jews, Christian and even Sikh in India and Paskistan. Why did you not raise your voice when muslims are the murderers - let me guess you turn a blind eye.
August 25th, 2009 at 12:01 am
I think u turned ur blind and typical Hindu eye!If u think what Muslims did with you guys is wrong then that doesnt mean what Hindus did is right!grow up guys and face the truth!
August 25th, 2009 at 3:56 am
Muslims always like to play the victim just like you - Muslims are perpetrators of most hate crimes, and when other defend themselves like Isreal and India muslims cry and hide behind lies just like you are doing now. Typical you create the problem and them blame others.
August 25th, 2009 at 4:01 am
You start the violence path and when other defend themselve you blame them. Typical Muslim and Islamic mentality, back stab and hurt others then pretend it never happens typical Muslim eye from a muslim. Grow up and get facts straight.
August 25th, 2009 at 6:44 pm
we know that there a group of people calling themselves as muslims and killing people, we can admit that, we kow that there are people out there who do such crimes and claim that they are muslims, but can you say this about your own religion? you sit there defended your own self, but can’t talk about bad points of what your people do. take a look in the mirror thats if you hindus can…
August 25th, 2009 at 7:13 pm
Mr Raj, I bet your from India, you live in a typicial backward country, were u hindus think your great and your perfect. You think its ok to go around killing your own people and muslims, You don’t talk and marry people from different castes! You are quick to judge people, I bet your a low life mumbaian that sits on his laptop, eats does nothing for a living…It’s people like you that do not make your country go foward. That is why india is so backward and defected today because people like you who will get married one day, have children and will stop there children from playing with muslims and different religions because of religion. Today in countries like America and Uk muslim people are accepted, because there is equailty, because muslims havn’t joined together to cause these attacks, People in these countries know its a group of people that are doing this. But you wouldn’t understand this because you are backward.. You will eat and buy things from muslims, and then kill them. But us we will eat and buy things from you, but the day you are in danger we will help you. You need to learn the difference between MUSLIMS and also PEOPLE AND THERE ACTIONS. untill you don’t know the differece you will always have your backward mind. I AM NOT A MUSLIM LET ME MAKE THAT CLEAR, I AM NOT AN INDIAN LET ME MAKE THAT CLEAR AS WELL.
August 25th, 2009 at 8:08 pm
If you are not indian or a muslim Unknown why are you hiding you name? You seem to be a muslim the way you talk.
August 25th, 2009 at 8:25 pm
the reason y im hiding my name is cz i want 2! n i dnt think its ot nethin 2 do with u! if im muslim y wud i deny it?
August 25th, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Haters
August 25th, 2009 at 8:32 pm
Unknown - you are most probably a Muslim who is hiding his name because he is scared.
Talking about backwards-
Muslims hide thier women in viels dont let them have rights - Taliban kill women and children and you dare to acuse other
I bet you are a stupid arse who has no life and is scared of admiting he is a muslim.
Its people like you that lie, cheat, and marry thier own sister and inbread like muslims do.
Muslims buy, work and live with other people and then back stab them - which I am sure you are a typical example off.
I am glad you are not india - idiots like you are not welcome in a society full of people, you are most probably a low life scum and wont even be allowed in India or US or even Europe.
August 25th, 2009 at 8:44 pm
Unknown what happened to your english - why dont you spell properly?
August 27th, 2009 at 1:39 am
unknown dnt argue with this lower Hindus they are cheap and nerominded!
August 27th, 2009 at 3:15 pm
ibrahim - stop talking to yourself we know you are pretending to be Unknown - oppppssss you are a dumb ass Muslims and a low life inbread who use 1 brain cells between themselves… what more can we expect from idiot Muslims like you and your imaginary friend.
August 27th, 2009 at 6:00 pm
And what are you?Stone worshipper Hindu?We dont have that lower life as u cow’s urine drinker!!U people eat cows SHIT!!
August 28th, 2009 at 10:03 pm
better then worship ur Lord Shankar’s DICK!!