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The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released its 2024 Annual Report, which presents a critical evaluation of India’s stance on religious freedom. The report draws attention to several concerning developments in India, particularly the growing use of misinformation and disinformation by government officials, contributing to increased hate speech against religious minorities, especially Muslims.
Disinformation and Hate Speech
The report highlights that, ahead of India’s 2024 national elections, members of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) engaged in spreading disinformation and hateful rhetoric targeted at Muslims. For instance, in April 2024, Prime Minister Narendra Modi referred to Muslims, who have been an integral part of Indian society since the 16th century, as “infiltrators.” He claimed, without any evidence, that opposition leaders would redistribute wealth confiscated from Hindus to Muslims if they came to power. Modi continued to propagate these baseless claims throughout his campaign speeches.
Union Home Minister Amit Shah echoed these sentiments, falsely asserting that opposition leaders would impose Shari’a law if elected, despite the fact that neither Shari’a nor Muslims were mentioned in the opposition’s election manifesto. This deliberate spread of falsehoods about religious groups not only stoked communal tensions but also exacerbated restrictions on the freedom of religion or belief (FoRB), particularly in the context of ongoing mob attacks against religious minorities.
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Distortion of Historical Records
The USCIRF report also criticizes the Indian government’s efforts to manipulate historical records, particularly those related to the contributions of religious minorities and instances of intolerance against them. In 2023, the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT), under the Ministry of Education, published new textbooks that omitted significant references to Muslims, including the 2002 Gujarat riots, which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Muslims. The removal of these historical events from educational material is seen as part of a broader attempt to marginalize religious minorities and rewrite history to fit a particular narrative.
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Broader Implications
The USCIRF’s 2024 report suggests that the current environment in India is increasingly hostile towards religious minorities, with government actions contributing to a climate of intolerance and division. The commission’s findings indicate that the spread of disinformation and the distortion of historical facts are not isolated incidents but part of a larger pattern that threatens the freedom of religion and belief in India. This situation has raised concerns not only within India but also internationally, as the world watches how these developments will impact the nation’s social fabric and democratic values.
Report Attached: USCIRF Report
