Indian envoy criticises USCIRF over remarks on Sharjeel Imam
Ambassador Vinay Mohan Kwatra told the American advisory body to examine its own prejudices and cease lecturing India.
Indian Ambassador to the United States Vinay Mohan Kwatra has criticised the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) following its comments regarding the detention of activist Sharjeel Imam. According to The Hindu, Kwatra stated that the bipartisan agency lacks the authority to pass judgment on the constitutional rights of people in India.
The dispute arose after the USCIRF posted a profile of Imam on X, describing him as a Muslim man held in India for his advocacy of religious freedom. Kwatra responded by calling the commission's assessments partisan, ill-informed, and jaundiced, adding that such narratives do not weaken India's commitment to equal rights for all faiths.
Imam, a former scholar at Jawaharlal Nehru University, is facing charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). He is accused of being a mastermind behind the February 2020 riots, which occurred during protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC). The violence resulted in 53 deaths and more than 700 injuries.
The USCIRF was established by the US government in 1998, though its recommendations are non-binding on the US State Department. Kwatra advised the body to introspect on its prejudices and stop lecturing others, asserting that India continues to flourish despite the agency's agenda-driven narratives.