New Delhi: Rashad Hussain, the US ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, has expressed concern with targeting of a number of religious communities, including Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindu Dalits and indigenous communities, in India.


Responding to a question after the State Department released its annual report on international religious freedom, he said they continue to raise these issues regularly with their Indian counterparts.


Hussain asserted the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an “important partner”.


“As we collect our data for our report we take their recommendations into account as well. We are concerned with targeting of a number of religious communities in India, including Christians, Muslims, Sikhs, Hindu dalits, and indigenous communities as well," Hussain said.


“I welcome the opportunity myself to even visit there and continue our discussions, and we continue to encourage the government to condemn violence that we’re seeing and hold those who engage in violence against minorities communities accountable,” he added.


Hussain, who released the State Department’s 2021 International Religious Freedom Report earlier on Thursday, said this “comprehensive resource is an indispensable part of our efforts to advance human rights globally”.


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“The stories of so many people and the persecution that they face is brought to life in the pages documenting the state of international religious freedom in the report,” he added.


The US ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom said the report clearly shows that governments and civil society must collaborate to address deteriorating conditions around the world.


“During the past year, we have seen increased repression by authoritarian governments and the politicized use of blasphemy, apostasy, and conversion laws, including against Christian communities,” Hussain said.


“We’re also witnessing rising societal violence against communities around the world. We’re seeing increasing anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim attacks from Europe to South Asia,” he added.


Expressing concern about members of the religious minority groups in countries around the world, including in Afghanistan, Burma, the People’s Republic of China, India, Nigeria, Pakistan and Vietnam, Hussain said: “ The concerning trend lines in these countries underscore that much work remains to be done.”