India Put On Watchlist

The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has included India in its watchlist of countries that have fallen short in protecting their religious minorities. The congressional body referred to anti-Muslim and anti-Christian riots in Gujarat and Orissa in 2002 and 2008 respectively. The Gujarat riots resulted in the deaths of around 2,000 people. In its report, the USCIRF noted that despite India's democratic and secular traditions, the laws and the police have been 'unwilling or unable' to protect those victimised by religious intolerance. Among other countries on the USCIRF list are Afghanistan, Somalia and Cuba.

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