U.S. religious freedom body seeks sanctions against RSS, no high-level meetings with its leaders
· World · The Hindu, NDTV, Hindustan Times
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has urged the U.S. government to impose sanctions on the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and deny its leaders diplomatic courtesies. USCIRF chair Asif Mahmood stated that the organization operates as an umbrella group whose sub-groups have allegedly perpetrated attacks on religious minorities, including Christians and Muslims. Commissioner Gene Mills further recommended that the U.S. government avoid high-level meetings with RSS officials, even those affiliated with the Indian government. These remarks were issued ahead of RSS Chief Mohan Bhagwat’s scheduled visit to New York on August 29 for the ‘Universal Oneness Celebrations’. The advocacy group Hindus for Human Rights also voiced opposition to the visit, citing concerns over the organization's political influence.
Why it matters
The call for sanctions from a U.S. federal advisory body creates a significant diplomatic friction point ahead of a high-profile visit by the head of India's influential ideological organization. It highlights ongoing international scrutiny regarding religious freedom in India and may complicate bilateral engagements between the U.S. and Indian government officials.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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