Fernand de Varennes, the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, has issued a dire warning regarding “the deteriorating state of human rights and religious freedom in India.”
Speaking at a summit organized by the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in Washington DC on September 20, 2023, De Varennes characterized the situation as "massive, systematic, and dangerous."
De Varennes did not mince words, asserting that India's current trajectory could transform it into a global epicentre of instability, atrocities, and violence.
He specifically pointed to the widespread violations and abuses primarily targeting religious and other minority groups, including Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and more, emphasizing that these actions are not isolated but systemic in nature and reflect religious nationalism.
Highlighting the gravity of the situation, De Varennes revealed that over the past decade, he had issued numerous communications and press releases, many through diplomatic channels, addressing human rights violations.
De Varennes recounted a particularly horrific incident involving a viral video from May 4, where a mob subjected two women from the Christian Kuki community to a harrowing ordeal, including public humiliation and sexual assault. He noted that authorities remained inactive until the international community's outcry forced them to respond.
The UN Special Rapporteur also drew attention to Manipur, where he saw ominous signs of large-scale scapegoating and dehumanization of Muslims and religious "others" that could lead to catastrophic atrocities. He cited a study revealing a shocking 786% increase in hate crimes against minorities between 2014 and 2018.
Moreover, he raised concerns about the discriminatory citizenship determination process in Assam and the revocation of the special status of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019.
With national elections slated for early 2024, De Varennes expressed fears that the targeting of minorities and human rights defenders could intensify.
He criticized Indian authorities for their failure to hold perpetrators of abuses against minorities accountable and their reluctance to engage constructively with criticism.
De Varennes also highlighted Canada's response to the killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, emphasizing that it sent a powerful message to India about the unacceptability of certain conduct.
The hearing concluded with a call for international pressure, particularly "government to government" pressure from the US and its allies, to compel the Indian government to change its policies and direction.
It's worth noting that the 2022 Annual Report from USCIRF had recommended that the US Department of State-designate India as a "country of particular concern" due to its engagement in or tolerance of systematic, ongoing, and egregious religious freedom violations, as outlined in the International Religious Freedom Act.