Washington's Annual Religious Freedom Report: A Political Tool in Disguise?

The United States, under its new administration, continues its long-standing tradition of scrutinizing global religious freedoms through the annual report compiled by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF). Despite claims of being an independent and bipartisan body, the commission operates with taxpayer funding and serves a crucial role in shaping Washington's foreign policy agenda.

The latest USCIRF report highlights religious freedom conditions worldwide, with a significant focus on India. It alleges a deterioration in religious freedom, citing increased discrimination and violence against religious minorities. Furthermore, the report directly references India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing them of promoting hateful rhetoric against Muslims. It also links the consecration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya to a surge in attacks against religious minorities across six Indian states.

Among the commission’s recommendations to the Trump administration are: imposing sanctions on India's Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) for allegedly targeting minorities abroad, reviewing the sale of military equipment—specifically the MQ-9 Reaper drones—to India, and designating India as a "Country of Particular Concern," a classification typically reserved for nations such as China, Pakistan, and Iran.

India has firmly rejected the findings, labeling them as biased and politically motivated. In an official statement, the Indian government criticized the USCIRF for misrepresenting isolated incidents and pushing an agenda that undermines India's democratic and multicultural fabric.

A Case of Double Standards?

While the USCIRF report casts aspersions on India, it fails to reflect on the state of religious freedom within the United States itself. The year 2024 witnessed a staggering 3,268 hate crimes across the U.S., with anti-Muslim attacks rising by 18%, anti-Semitic incidents increasing by 11%, and anti-Asian slurs becoming more frequent. Furthermore, the U.S. saw over 500 mass shootings in the same period, underscoring the deep-rooted issues of intolerance and violence within its own borders.

Since 9/11, the American Muslim community has faced persistent surveillance, profiling, and hate crimes. In 2023 alone, the Council on American-Islamic Relations documented over 8,000 complaints ranging from employment discrimination to acts of violence against mosques. Similarly, anti-Semitic incidents surged by 140% in the same year, with synagogues facing repeated vandalism and congregants experiencing harassment.

Despite this troubling domestic scenario, Washington continues to use its annual report as a diplomatic tool to exert pressure on foreign governments. If the U.S. applied the same scrutiny to its own policies and societal issues, it might find ample justification to investigate its own failures in ensuring religious freedom and tolerance. Instead, the focus remains outward, reinforcing a pattern of selective criticism that serves political and strategic interests rather than genuine advocacy for religious rights.

The irony is evident: while Washington preaches religious freedom to the world, its own house remains in disorder. Until the U.S. begins addressing the systemic issues within its borders, its reports on global religious freedoms will continue to be viewed as politically motivated rather than an impartial assessment of international human rights.