The US State Department's 2023 International Religious Freedom Report has highlighted growing concerns about religious freedom in India. Released on June 26, the report paints a troubling picture of rising communal tensions and violence against religious minorities in the world's largest democracy.

Secretary of State Antony Blinken, while unveiling the report, noted a "concerning increase" in hate speech, anti-conversion laws, and demolitions of homes and places of worship belonging to religious minorities in India.

The report cites 272 instances of communal violence in 2022, including attacks on religious minority groups. Particularly alarming was the United Christian Forum's report of 731 attacks on Christians, with Uttar Pradesh and Chhattisgarh seeing the highest numbers.

US Ambassador for International Religious Freedom, Rashad Hussain, pointed out instances where local police allegedly aided mobs disrupting worship services or stood by during attacks on Christian communities, later arresting the victims on conversion charges.

The report also touched on the Manipur violence, noting the Supreme Court's criticism of both central and state governments for failing to halt the unrest.

On the legislative front, the report mentioned new criminal laws passed by Parliament in December. These laws, which criminalize false promises and identity concealment for sexual exploitation, have been criticized by some as potentially targeting interfaith marriages, particularly those involving Muslim men.

The push for a Uniform Civil Code (UCC) also came under scrutiny. While Prime Minister Modi has called for its implementation, leaders from various religious communities have opposed it, viewing it as part of a larger agenda to create a "Hindu Rashtra" or Hindu nation.

As this annual report continues to shed light on religious freedom worldwide, its findings on India are likely to spark further debate and scrutiny both domestically and internationally.