India: USCIRF Not Issued Visas
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 3, 2016
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The Indian government today
failed to issue visas to the U.S. Commission on International Religious
Freedom (USCIRF) in time for a long planned trip to India. The goal of
the Commission’s trip was to discuss and assess religious freedom
conditions in that nation.
“We are deeply disappointed by the Indian
government’s denial, in effect, of these visas. As a pluralistic,
non-sectarian, and democratic state, and a close partner of the United
States, India should have the confidence to allow our visit. USCIRF has
been able to travel to many countries, including those that are among
the worst offenders of religious freedom, including Pakistan, Saudi
Arabia, Vietnam, China, and Burma. One would expect that the Indian
government would allow for more transparency than have these nations,
and would welcome the opportunity to convey its views directly to
USCIRF,” said Robert P. George, Chairman of USCIRF.
The USCIRF delegation was scheduled to leave on
March 4 and had the support of the State Department and the U.S. Embassy
in New Delhi. USCIRF’s principal responsibilities include reviewing,
through the lens of international human rights law, the facts and
circumstances of violations of religious freedom internationally and
making policy recommendations to the President, Secretary of State, and
Congress. USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government
commission with commissioners appointed by the President and the leaders
in both Houses of Congress.
“USCIRF will continue to pursue a visit to
India, given the ongoing reports from religious communities, civil
society groups, and NGOs that the conditions for religious freedom in
India have been deteriorating since 2014,” said Chairman George.
For more information about India see USCIRF’s chapter from the 2015 Annual Report.
To interview a USCIRF Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at media@uscirf.gov or 202-786-0613.