New York Council of Churches open letter calls on Biden, Congress to “speak out forcefully” against minority persecution in India
Washington, D.C. (September 19, 2023) – The Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) today commended the New York Council of Churches for its release of an open letter calling on the Biden administration to “speak out forcefully” against rising Hindu extremist violence targeting Christians and other minorities in India.
In the letter addressed to President Biden, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, and other major elected officials, the NY Council of Churches expressed grave concern regarding escalating anti-Christian violence throughout Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s India, particularly in Manipur, where predominantly Christian Kuki-Zo tribals have faced hundreds of violent attacks on their villages, churches, and homes at the hands of predominantly Hindu Meitei mobs.
“The New York State Council of Churches… calls on the President and Congress to speak out forcefully against Indian Prime Minister Modi’s systematic persecution of Christians and other religious minorities,” stated the letter, which was signed by twenty-five faith leaders from the Christian community.
The letter pointed out that despite the US praising India as an ally, Modi’s supporters have a well-documented track record of abusing American citizens who are sympathetic to the plight of Indian minorities.
“We note with alarm the growth of the Hindu Nationalist affiliated groups in the United States many of which influence our domestic politics, spread disinformation about what is happening in India and seek to silence and intimidate United States citizens who are critical of the Indian Government,” the letter said.
The letter further criticized US lawmakers for being willing to “set aside their Christian principles to openly defend the Prime Minister and ignore all of the Indian government’s well-documented abuses against Christians and other religious minorities,” particularly since several US-based activists, journalists, and human rights organizations have faced severe harassment from Modi’s supporters.
The Indian American Muslim Council reaffirms its solidarity with Indian Christians and those fighting to protect human rights and calls upon the Biden administration to publicly condemn the ongoing attacks on Christians throughout India.
