Clarion India
NEW DELHI – The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has strongly denounced the recent demolition of a Madarsa in Haldwani, Uttarakhand and the inauguration of the Ram Mandir in Ayodhya, suggesting that the events in Haldwani are not isolated incidents.
In a tweet, the USCIRF stated, “USCIRF is disturbed by the demolition and expropriation of mosques in India, including the recent destruction of a mosque in Uttarakhand and inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya on the site of the demolished Babri Mosque.”
“The targeting of places of worship in India including mosques, churches & synagogues, remains deeply concerning. USCIRF reiterates a call for a congressional hearing on designating #India as a Country of Particular Concern,” said USCIRF commissioner.
The USCIRF is an independent and bipartisan federal government agency in the United States tasked with monitoring the universal right to freedom of religion or belief globally. The organization provides policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and Congress.
The violence in Haldwani unfolded last Thursday after authorities demolished a Madarsa, citing it as an “illegal” construction. Subsequently, the state issued ‘shoot-at-sight’ orders, leading to six fatalities and over 60 injuries.
The USCIRF has been closely monitoring religious freedom in India, expressing concern in 2020 over the Delhi riots and accusing India of “targeting and potentially disenfranchising Muslims across the country, in clear violation of international human rights standards.”
For the past four years, the USCIRF has recommended that the US administration designate India as a ‘Country of Particular Concern,’ a suggestion that has not been accepted since 2020.
India’s Ministry of External Affairs has consistently refuted USCIRF’s claims, deeming them misleading and factually incorrect. Additionally, Indian American organizations, such as IAMC, have issued statements condemning the violence in Haldwani and expressing concern about the situation of Muslims in India.
