INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM REPORT

• Recently, the 2021 Report on International Religious Freedom (IRF) was released by the US Department of State.
• The document is distinct from the IRF report released by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
• USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity while the IRF is part of the US State Department. The former’s report holds a statutory obligation.

US Office of International Religious Freedom

• In 1998, the then-US President Bill Clinton signed the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA, 1998) into law.
• The Act led to the creation of the Office of International Religious Freedom headed by an Ambassador-at-Large within the State Department of the US government, and the establishment of a US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).
• The US Office of International Religious Freedom (IRF) monitors religiously motivated abuses, harassment, and discrimination globally.
• Additionally, it recommends, develops and implements policies and programs to address the mentioned concerns.
• The IRF also mentions that it assists emerging democracies globally to implement freedom of religion and conscience.
• Further, identify and denounce regimes that persecute on the basis of religion and assist NGOs globally in promoting religious freedom.

Key Highlights of the Report

• India has seen an increase in attacks on people (due to religious intolerance) and places of worship.
• Attacks on members of religious minority communities, including killings, assaults, and intimidation, occurred throughout the year.
• These included incidents of ‘cow vigilantism’ against non-Hindus based on allegations of cow slaughter or trade in beef.
• The India segment also highlights anti-conversion laws in the country, noting that 28 states have these laws and arrests were made under them.
• It also notes that several State governments announced plans to introduce anti-conversion laws.
• Police arrested non-Hindus for making comments in the media or on social media that were considered offensive to Hindus or Hinduism.
• There have been attacks in Jammu and Kashmir targeting and killing civilians and migrants, including Hindu migrant workers from Bihar.
• As per reports, this caused extensive fear in the Hindu and Sikh communities, leading to an exodus of migrants from the area.

Lynching:

• Incidents of lynching of Muslims in Tripura, Rajasthan, and Jammu and Kashmir in 2021 are also mentioned.
• Foreign Contributions Regulations Act was used by the government to constrain the functioning of Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs)
• The government claims that the Act is used to strengthen oversight and accountability of foreign NGOs.

SOURCE: THE HINDU,THE ECONOMIC TIMES,MINT