by Hashim Umar Ali
This report is particularly significant because it comes shortly after Modi’s visit to the US and while India’s Foreign Minister, S. Jaishankar, was still on a diplomatic tour of the country. It underscores the increasing hostility towards religious minorities in India, particularly in the run-up to the 2024 general elections. The report specifically names Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and several members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) as key figures inciting hatred against Muslims.
The USCIRF report provides an alarming account of the deteriorating conditions for Muslims in 2024. Hate speech has escalated, often led by top political figures, leading to lynchings, violence and vigilante attacks. Prime Minister Modi has accused opposition parties of wanting to “wipe out the Hindu faith” and referred to Muslims as “infiltrators”, rhetoric that has fuelled violent actions across the country. Amit Shah falsely claimed that opposition parties would impose Shari’ah law if elected, despite no such agenda being present in their manifestos.
One notable incident in January 2024 followed the inauguration of the controversial Ram Temple in Ayodhya. BJP leaders, Nitesh Rane and Geeta Jain, made inflammatory speeches in Mumbai’s Mira Road, urging Hindus to “ignite and retaliate” against Muslims, resulting in widespread violence. Another BJP leader, T. Raja Singh, called for the demolition of mosques and incited further unrest by accusing Muslims of “love jihad” and forced conversions.
Legal Discrimination and Oppression
The report highlights how Modi’s government has weaponised the legal system to disenfranchise religious minorities. The Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), for instance, fast-tracks citizenship for non-Muslim refugees, effectively marginalising Muslims. The Uniform Civil Code (UCC) and anti-conversion laws, which have been enacted in several states, have further deepened the divide between religious communities.
The USCIRF’s report warns that these laws create structural inequality. The UCC, for example, threatens the autonomy of minority communities, while anti-conversion laws provide cover for the state to arrest religious leaders and close places of worship. Combined with the National Register of Citizens (NRC), millions of Muslims face the possibility of statelessness.
Anurima Bhargava, a USCIRF commissioner, asserted: “The Modi administration’s legal and political manoeuvres, coupled with rising hate speech, are designed to marginalise religious minorities, particularly Muslims. The systematic erosion of religious freedom in India poses a fundamental threat to the country’s democracy and pluralistic identity.”
Muslims are not the only community facing persecution. Christians, Sikhs and other minorities have also been subjected to violence and discrimination. In 2024, the report records 161 attacks on Christians, including assaults on churches and prayer meetings. In Assam, Hindu organisations stormed Catholic schools, demanding the removal of Christian symbols while, in Uttar Pradesh, madrasas have been forcibly closed under new laws.
The Modi government has also used anti-terror laws like the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) to target civil society organisations. The Foreign Contribution Regulation Act (FCRA) has been another tool of repression, with over 20,000 NGOs—many of them religious—stripped of their licences since 2012. In 2024 alone, five major Christian charities, including the Church of North India and Evangelical Fellowship of India, lost their licences, severely curtailing their work.
The USCIRF has called on the US government to designate India as a “country of particular concern” for its systematic violations of religious freedom. Such a designation would place India alongside countries like North Korea and China, making it subject to potential sanctions. The Commission also urged the US State Department to take action against individuals involved in inciting violence, including Modi and Amit Shah.
Rabbi David Saperstein, a former US Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom, commented: “The growing religious intolerance in India is a tragic departure from the country’s rich history of pluralism. Prime Minister Modi’s leadership has created an environment where violence against minorities is not only tolerated but encouraged. The international community must act swiftly to hold those responsible accountable.”
India has long been celebrated as the world’s largest democracy, known for its diversity and pluralism. However, under Modi’s leadership, the country finds itself at a crossroads. The systematic targeting of Muslims and other religious minorities raises serious questions about India’s commitment to democratic principles and human rights.
The USCIRF’s report serves as a wake-up call for the international community, which must recognise the gravity of the situation. As India approaches its 2024 general elections, there are widespread concerns that the political climate will further deteriorate, exacerbating violence and division along religious lines.
As the global spotlight turns to India, the world must ask: Will Prime Minister Modi heed these warnings and restore India’s commitment to human rights and equality, or will he continue down the path of religious intolerance and authoritarianism? The future of India’s democracy, and the safety of its religious minorities, hang in the balance.
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