Indian Americans commend Rep. Ilhan Omar for introducing House resolution to condemn persecution of Muslims in India
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Washington, DC (June 23, 2022) – The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) today commended Representative Ilhan Omar (D-MN) for introducing the House resolution 1196, which condemns India for egregious violations of human rights and religious freedom.
Co-sponsored by lawmakers Rashida Talib and Juan Vargas, the resolution urges the State Department to act on the recommendations of US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), and designate India as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) under the International Religious Freedom Act.
In its 2022 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended India to be designated as a CPC for the systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom for the third consecutive year.
The resolution, which relies heavily on USCIRF’s 2022 Annual Report and Department of State’s 2021 Annual Report on International Religious Freedom calls on the House of Representatives to condemn, “human rights violations and violations of international religious freedom in India, including those targeting Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits, Adivasis, and other religious and cultural minorities.”
It also calls on the House to express, “grave concern about the worsening treatment of religious minorities in India.”
“It is indeed sad to see the country that we love and adore, discriminate and criminalize its most vulnerable citizens and head down the path of bigotry, intolerance and authoritarianism,” said Syed Afzal Ali, President of IAMC.
“We are grateful to the congresswoman Ilhan Omar who introduced this resolution and urge other members of congress to support it to ensure that the human rights and religious freedom of all, including Christians and Muslims in India are respected, and protected,” Afzal Ali added.
IAMC also lauded Congressman Jim McGovern (MA), Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib (MI), and Congressman Juan Vargas (CA) for co-sponsoring the resolution and sending a clear message to the Indian government that US won’t stay a mute spectator to the persecution of country’s 200 million Muslims.
