International Religious Freedom Report

The US Government recently released the International Religious Freedom Report, 2019. India has raised its concerns over the report. This was because the report alleged India with discrimination and attacks against religious minorities in the country.

What were the concerns raised in the report?

• The religious freedom conditions in India is experiencing downturn. The national Government of the country has used its majority in the parliament and has instituted national level policies that is violating religious freedom.
• The report had also raised concerns over scrapping of special status of Jammu and Kashmir
• It also criticized the Citizenship Amendment Act saying the act is a fast track to provide citizenship to non-Muslims from Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Pakistan.
• The report also condemned cow slaughter laws, anti-conversion laws and mob-lynching.

FCRA

According to the report, India has prohibited several internationally funded NGOs. They were prohibited from operating in India since 2010. This was implemented through the amendment of the FCRA (Foreign Contribution Regulation Act), 1976. Through the amendment, the GoI can shut any of the internationally funded NGO based on national interest.