Thread by @IAMCouncil

A coalition of 22 human rights organizations have sent a letter to @SecBlinken over his refusal to designate India as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) as recommended by the @USCIRF. 1/n

iamc.com/22-organizatio…

For the last two years, in 2020 and in 2021, @USCIRF has noted that the Indian government has been “engaging in and tolerating systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations, as defined by the International Religious Freedom Act (IRA).” 2/n

In recognition of this situation, the @USCIRF recommended in its 2020 & 2021 annual reports that the @StateDept declare India as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). Despite these recommendations, @SecBlinken refused to designate India as a CPC in his Nov 15 announcement. 3/n

In response, @Hindus4HR and @IAMCouncil drafted a joint letter stating that “The national security and strategic imperatives of the US are not strengthened but actually undermined if the U.S. govt continues to ignore rising religious persecution & human rights abuses in India.”

The letter urges @SecBlinken to reconsider his decision and “designate India as a CPC at the earliest.”

The letter was signed by leading human rights organizations, including @genocide_watch, @indiacivilwatch, and Tom Lantos Foundation For Human Rights and Justice. 5/n

The letter also received endorsements from religious denominations and faith-based organizations such as the @Fiacona_us, @persecutionnews , ICNA Social Justice, Islamic Society of North America, New York State Council of Churches, and the Orthodox Public Affairs Committee.6/n

Full copy of letter: iamc.com/22-organizatio…

Also read an OPED by IAMC's @rasheedahmedusa, @Hindus4HR's @sunitaviswanath and New York State Council of Churches's Peter Cook on how @JoeBiden is perpetuating deepening religious persecution against Indian minorities by failing to hold Modi to account.

aljazeera.com/opinions/2021/…