WASHINGTON: In an effort to address concerns regarding free speech and the marginalization of minorities, a senior US diplomat is set to travel to India in the coming days. Uzra Zeya, the US undersecretary of state for democracy and human rights, will engage with Indian civil society during her visit, following Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent trip to the United States where he denied the existence of religious minority abuse in his country.
The State Department issued a statement on Friday, announcing that Zeya will also meet with Indian government officials to discuss various topics, including global challenges, democracy, regional stability, and cooperation on humanitarian relief. Her trip comes after President Joe Biden’s reception of Modi in June, which drew criticism from activists who voiced concerns about the deterioration of human rights in India under Modi’s leadership.
Traveling to 🇮🇳 & 🇧🇩 next week to advance shared solutions to global challenges; contribute to a more free, open, secure & prosperous Indo-Pacific; and bolster humanitarian support for refugees & host communities throughout the region. Follow here for more on my trip!…
— Under Secretary Uzra Zeya (@UnderSecStateJ) July 7, 2023
While Biden and Modi highlighted defense and commerce agreements to counter China’s global influence, Biden also discussed human rights with Modi, but refrained from public criticism of Modi, his Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), or the Indian government on the subject.
During her visit, Zeya will also travel to Bangladesh from July 8 to July 14. The State Department stated that she will engage with civil society organizations in both countries, focusing on freedom of expression and association, as well as the inclusion of women, girls, persons with disabilities, and vulnerable groups, including marginalized religious and ethnic minorities.
Human Rights Situation in India
Modi’s denial of religious minority abuse during his US visit was contested by activists who argued that it contradicted evidence presented by human rights advocates. While the State Department has occasionally expressed concern about human rights issues in India, criticism from the US has been relatively muted due to close economic ties between the two countries and India’s strategic significance for countering China, according to political analysts.
Reports released by the State Department this year on human rights and religious freedom highlighted concerns about the treatment of Muslims, Hindu Dalits, Christians, and other religious minorities in India. The reports also noted a crackdown on journalists and dissidents. India’s ranking in the World Press Freedom Index hit its lowest point at 161st this year, and the country leads the world in the number of government-imposed internet shutdowns.
The UN human rights office previously described India’s 2019 citizenship law as “fundamentally discriminatory” for excluding Muslim migrants. Critics have also raised concerns about anti-conversion legislation that challenges the constitutionally protected right to freedom of belief, as well as the revocation of the special status of Muslim-majority Kashmir in 2019. Instances such as the demolition of properties owned by Muslims in the name of removing illegal constructions and the ban on wearing the hijab in Karnataka classrooms during the BJP’s rule in that state have also drawn criticism.
