India Rebukes USCIRF Over Sharjeel Imam Remarks
India’s Ambassador to the United States, Vinay Mohan Kwatra, has strongly criticised the US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for describing jailed activist Sharjeel Imam as a religious freedom prisoner. In a statement on Saturday, November 14, Kwatra accused the American advisory body of bias and questioned its authority to assess India’s constitutional protections.
Vinay Kwatra Rejects USCIRF’s Sharjeel Imam Remarks
The controversy began after USCIRF published a social media post describing Imam as a Muslim detained in India for advocating religious freedom.
Kwatra rejected the characterisation, asserting that the commission had no standing to judge the constitutional rights of Indian citizens.
He described USCIRF’s assessments as partisan and poorly informed, maintaining that India’s Constitution guarantees religious freedom and equal rights to people of all faiths.
The ambassador also advised the commission to examine its own prejudices instead of lecturing other countries.
Sharjeel Imam Faces UAPA Charges in Delhi Riots Case
Imam, a former Jawaharlal Nehru University researcher, was arrested in January 2020 following speeches delivered during protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act.
He subsequently faced charges under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in connection with the alleged larger conspiracy behind the February 2020 northeast Delhi riots.
The violence left 53 people dead and hundreds injured.
Delhi Police have accused Imam of involvement in the alleged conspiracy. Imam has denied wrongdoing, and the charges against him remain subject to judicial proceedings.
India Questions USCIRF’s Religious Freedom Assessments
USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan American federal commission that advises the US government on international religious freedom.
The commission has repeatedly criticised India’s religious freedom record and recommended stronger American scrutiny.
India has consistently rejected such assessments, arguing that they misrepresent the country’s constitutional framework and domestic circumstances.
The latest exchange highlights continuing disagreements between Indian officials and USCIRF over religious freedom and judicial proceedings.
