Please join the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) for an in-person hearing on religious freedom conditions in India.
In 2026, religious freedom in the country remains on a downward trajectory, with the government tolerating particularly severe religious freedom violations. Religious minority communities, including Christians and Muslims, as well as Dalits, continue to be the target of violent attacks and harassment. Several states have strengthened or introduced new anti-conversion laws, imposing harsh penalties for those deemed to have engaged in religious conversions. The government also continues to wield anti-terrorism and citizenship laws to arbitrarily detain religious minorities and those advocating on their behalf.
Witnesses will address the continued persecution of religious minorities in India including Christians, Muslims, and Sikhs. They will also examine the increasing role of transnational repression to target religious minorities beyond India’s borders.
Opening Remarks
Vicky Hartzler, Chair, USCIRF
Asif Mahmood, Vice Chair, USCIRF
Panel
Raqib Naik, Founder and Executive Director of Center for the Study of Organized Hate
Angana Chatterji, Scholar, University of California, Berkeley
Arjun Sethi, Professor at Georgetown University Law Center
Additional witnesses may be added
This hearing is open to Members of Congress, congressional staff, the public, and the media. The video recording of the hearing will be posted on the Commission website. For any additional questions or to schedule an interview, please email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
