US religious freedom watchdog criticises India over treatment of minorities

The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has accused Indian authorities of continuing to use anti-terrorism legislation against members of religious minorities, highlighting the cases of Sikh activist Jagtar Singh Johal and student activist Umar Khalid.

In a statement issued on September 24, USCIRF welcomed the decision to grant Johal bail after nearly nine years in detention and urged the U.S. State Department to work with Indian authorities to secure the release of other people it identifies as prisoners of freedom of religion or belief, Caliber.Az writes per Sikh Siyasat News.

“In light of the Indian government’s decision to grant bail to British-born Sikh activist, Jagtar Singh Johal, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) urges the U.S. Department of State to work with Indian authorities to facilitate the release of other freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) prisoners, many of whom, including Jagtar Singh Johal, are included as a FoRB Victim in USCIRF’s Frank R. Wolf Freedom of Religion or Belief Victims List”, the commission said.

USCIRF Chair Asif Mahmood welcomed Johal’s release on bail but said uncertainty remained over his ability to return to the United Kingdom and reunite with his family.

“Under the terms of his bail, Johal was required to surrender his passport, is banned from communicating with the press, and still faces the death penalty in eight charges against him,” he said.

According to USCIRF, Indian authorities arrested Johal in 2017 on murder and terrorism charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The commission said several UN special rapporteurs have criticised the law as inconsistent with international standards and India’s international obligations.

USCIRF said Johal had previously written online about alleged human rights abuses against India’s Sikh community and argued that his activities were protected under international freedom-of-expression standards. It also said his trial had faced repeated delays and alleged that authorities had failed to present credible evidence against him.

The commission further cited findings by UN bodies regarding Johal’s detention and repeated his allegations that he was subjected to physical and psychological abuse, including electric shocks, sleep deprivation, stress positions and threats to his life.

“USCIRF urges the United States government to press Indian officials to conduct a full investigation into Johal’s detention and treatment and the U.S. government should hold perpetrators of such particularly severe violations accountable in accordance with the International Religious Freedom Act”, the statement reads.

USCIRF Vice Chair CeCe Heil said Johal’s case reflected what she described as a broader pattern affecting religious minorities in India.

“Johal’s case is demonstrative of a larger pattern by the Indian government to silence or imprison religious minorities,” said Vice Chair CeCe Heil. “Several other FoRB prisoners, including Umar Khalid and Sharjeel Imam, continue to languish in pre-trial detention for perceived UAPA violations, for simply engaging in peaceful protest. In recent years, the Indian government has even gone so far as to orchestrate assassinations and assassination attempts against members of the Sikh community in North America in clear acts of transnational repression meant to intimidate, coerce, and harass the diaspora.