A US government advisory body has called on Washington to press India to hold accountable those responsible for attacks on religious minorities. The commission cited a sharp rise in violence against Christians and Muslims by Hindu nationalist mobs.
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) said incidents targeting Christians intensified over the past two months. January alone saw multiple attacks across several Indian states.
USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler highlighted an incident in Odisha. Pastor Bipin Bihari Naik was reportedly assaulted while holding Sunday prayers at a private home. A mob accused him of forced religious conversions, dragged him outside, and forced him to eat cow dung.
“These attacks underscore the need for the US Department of State to designate India a Country of Particular Concern,” Hartzler said. This designation is reserved for nations committing severe violations of religious freedom.
The commission said the Odisha attack is part of a larger pattern of harassment, vandalism, and violence. In Maharashtra, four Christian families reportedly had their homes demolished for refusing to renounce their faith. In Andhra Pradesh, a minibus carrying evangelical Christians was attacked, set on fire, and passengers beaten with sticks and stones.
In February, Hindu mobs in Chhattisgarh reportedly set fire to several Muslim homes following allegations of temple desecration. USCIRF Vice Chair Asif Mahmood said claims of forced conversion are often used to justify violence and arbitrary arrests.
Mahmood also highlighted recent arrests in Uttar Pradesh, where 12 Muslim men were detained for praying inside a private home. In some states, violations under anti-conversion laws can carry life sentences.
In its 2025 annual report, USCIRF recommended designating India as a Country of Particular Concern due to “systematic, ongoing, and egregious” violations of religious freedom. The commission recently updated its findings and held a hearing in January to examine the challenges faced by Christians in India.
