UN Committee Cites India for Discrimination Against Religious Minorities

The United Nations Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination (CERD) recently issued findings criticizing India for its treatment of Christian and Muslim minority groups. This report, released on August 25 following a two-day review in Geneva, marks the committee's first assessment of India since 2007. The panel expressed concern regarding the protection of religious freedom for members of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes, noting that those who convert to Christianity or Islam often face systemic discrimination.

The committee highlighted reports of hate speech and hate crimes, specifically pointing to forced reconversion campaigns led by vigilante groups. Additionally, the findings addressed concerns over discriminatory citizenship processes in Assam and the impact of voter roll purges on Muslim populations. The review involved a dialogue between the committee and an Indian delegation led by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. While India is a signatory to the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination, the panel concluded that current state-level anti-conversion laws are frequently applied in a manner that disproportionately affects Christian communities.