The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an autonomous U.S. entity tasked with overseeing global religious freedom and offering policy recommendations. It was established in 1998 under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) to monitor the state of religious freedom worldwide. It advises the U.S. government, especially the State Department, the President, and Congress, by publishing annual reports and suggesting policy actions, such as naming certain countries as “Countries of Particular Concern (CPC)” for serious violations of religious freedom. While it plays a significant role in shaping US foreign policy, it has been criticised by many countries, notably Bharat, for being biased and selective in its reporting and for applying a Western view of religious freedom.
The recent USCIRF report on Bharat has sparked considerable debate, particularly due to its suggestion to classify Bharat as a CPC. This has resulted in accusations of a biased, politically motivated and selective narrative. A primary critique is the incessant, uniform negative framing of Bharat in its reports over the last five years. Since 2020, USCIRF has consistently advocated for CPC designation for Bharat, highlighting concerns such as communal violence, anti-conversion legislation, and purported discrimination against minorities by presenting distorted facts. It is often criticised for highlighting minority grievances without equal attention to majority concerns and framing issues in a way that appears one-sided. Critics contend that this repetition signifies a predetermined judgment, rather than a dynamic assessment attuned to evolving circumstances.
Critics also say that USCIRF reflects US foreign policy interests rather than advocating for religious freedom. Its suggestions align with the US’s geopolitical goals rather than with objective evaluations of religious freedom. USCIRF report lacks sufficient on-ground verification, especially in complex societies such as Bharat. The major issue is the selective utilisation of incidents in its annual report. The USCIRF reports frequently emphasise particular instances of violence, hate speech, or the destruction of religious properties by using social media reports, distorted facts and without on-ground verification of incidents. The government of Bharat say that the commission often generalises localised or irregular occurrences into a national pattern, thus fostering a distorted picture of our nation. The USCIRF lacks direct investigative authority and relies significantly on media reports and contributions from non-governmental organisations. The problem is often linked with overdependence on secondary sources in data collection. This raises concerns about verification, representativeness, and potential ideological bias in the source material, which largely influence the objectivity of the conclusions.
A further aspect is the implementation of a Western normative framework on religious freedom. The socio-religious fabric of Bharat is intricate, influenced by historical, cultural, and constitutional elements. Critics contend that USCIRF assesses Bharat through a monolithic lens, inadequately accounting for local conditions such as federal governance, legal protections, and community dynamics. This pattern often results in normative bias and an insufficient analysis of on-ground situations. Furthermore, USCIRF is alleged to exhibit geopolitical partiality and engage in selective international comparisons. It is often observed that nations aligned with U.S. strategic objectives receive more lenient inspections, whereas others, such as Bharat, China, and Iran, face more rigorous assessments. The suggestion of policy measures, including penalties or the conditionality of bilateral relations on religious freedom issues, has been perceived as invasive and politically driven.
In summary, accusations of bias in USCIRF reports over the last five years regarding Bharat arise from selective evidence, normative frameworks, and suspected geopolitical reasons. The organisation is well-known for using coercive methods to push Westernised, Christianized, and white supremacist ideas on countries in the Global South. It targets governments or organisations in the Global South with sanctions that link them to the US government’s arms trade and trade policies. The group has repeatedly shown it is unaware of how people live in other regions of the world, which is why many governments call it an “organisation of concern.” The current structure of the USCIRF consists of two catholic activists, two Muslims, and two Jewish people. Even the Chair of the commission, Vicky Hartzler, herself is an evangelical Christian. Therefore, it becomes easy for a caucus of Abrahamic people to target the organisations working for the unity of Sanatana Bharat and the upliftment of Bhartiya society.
