Christian groups welcome report recognising religious hatred in India

Christian Solidarity Worldwide and the All India Christian Council have welcomed a new report warning of intolerance and widespread fear of mob violence in India.

UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion or belief, Ms Asma Jahangir, notes in her report the "positive impact of secularism” but warns that a “system of impunity emboldens forces of intolerance” and that extremist groups advocating religious hatred “have unleashed an all-pervasive fear of mob violence”.

Ms Jahangir visited India in March 2008, during which time she held numerous meetings with civil society, including one organised by CSW and the AICC in Orissa state after the anti-Christian violence of December 2007.

The Special Rapporteur’s report further articulates concern over state-level anti-conversion laws “used to vilify Christians and Muslims”, and recommends that they be “reconsidered since they raise serious human rights concerns”.

It also calls for an end to religious discrimination in the eligibility of Dalits for the affirmative action system of reservations in public sector education and employment. Its other areas of concern include the socio-economic status of Muslims, shortcomings in the recognition of the Sikh, Jain and Buddhist religions, religious freedom in Jammu and Kashmir, and religion-based personal laws.

Dr Joseph D’souza, AICC President, said the Special Rapporteur had painted a "balanced and authentic" picture of the state of religious freedom in India.

"The increasing violence against religious minorities by religious fundamentalists urgently warrants this level of attention," he said.

"We appreciate her incisive analysis of the key issues of concern, especially the damage of anti-conversion laws on a rich tradition of religious tolerance, and the unequal treatment of Dalits from different faiths."

He called upon the Indian Government "to take this report and its recommendations seriously”.

Alexa Papadouris, CSW Advocacy Director, said: “The widespread impunity which has followed several large-scale outbreaks of violence against religious minorities, most recently against Christians in Orissa but previously against Muslims and Sikhs, has been a particularly visible challenge to religious freedom."

She said the report echoed calls from within India for these and other concerns to be addressed properly.

"Together with the Special Rapporteur, we recognise the immense challenges of governing as large and diverse a nation as India," she said. "However, we urge the government to engage fully with all the recommendations in this report, as a demonstration of their commitment to India being a land of freedom and opportunity for all her diverse citizens, regardless of their religious identity.”