![US issues rare criticism of India in religious freedom report](https://www.portugalcolonial.pt/media/shared/articles/bc/5c/90/US-issues-rare-criticism-of-India-i-191711.jpg)
-
Missing Wimbledon would not have been 'correct', says Djokovic
-
Russell plans to 'sneak through' front two in Austria
-
Kohli leads the way as India set SA 177 to win
-
France's Bardet wins Tour de France opener as Cavendish suffers
-
Imperious Verstappen takes pole for Austrian Grand Prix
-
Top seed Fritz wins third Eastbourne ATP title
-
Bagnaia turns the heat up on MotoGP leader Martin
-
Cheers and prayers in India as T20 World Cup cricket final begins
-
Attacker with crossbow killed outside Israeli embassy in Belgrade, officer wounded
-
Haiti PM visits US, to meet with White House official
-
India win toss and bat in T20 World Cup final
-
Second-time lucky for Kasatkina as she wins Eastbourne WTA final
-
Heptathlon world champion Johnson-Thompson allays Olympic fitness worries
-
Zverev says 'most open Wimbledon in 20 years'
-
Sabalenka 'not 100%' certain for Wimbledon due to 'rare' injury
-
Fighting for third day in north Gaza as thousands displaced
-
'We have already won the Euros', says Georgia coach Sagnol
-
Manchester United's Earps latest to leave WSL club
-
Tense France goes to polls as far-right scents power
-
Mauvaka rewarded with Toulouse contract extension
-
Reformist to face ultraconservative in Iran presidency runoff
-
Verstappen resists Norris attack to win Austrian GP sprint race
-
Afghan women's rights an internal issue, Taliban govt says before UN-led talks
-
Pogacar favourite as Tour de France sets off from Florence
-
Clashes, arrests mark start of German far-right AfD congress
-
Five IS bombs found hidden in iconic Iraq mosque: UN agency
-
Mongolia ruling party wins reduced majority in vote dominated by graft
-
'Revolutionary' Dupont turns focus to Olympics after record Top 14 success
-
Panamanian court acquits 28 defendants in 'Panama Papers' trial
-
Fans pray for India's elusive world cricket trophy
-
Reformist, ultraconservative lead Iran presidential vote
-
Biden takes stage with Elton John to celebrate LGBTQ milestone
-
Legal weed limps into next phase in Germany
-
Vietnam economy expands 6.4 percent in first half of year
-
Thompson, Jackson win 100m titles at Jamaican Olympic trials
-
Holloway makes Olympics with 110 hurdles win as Lyles, Richardson roll on
-
Mauritania heads to polls with incumbent tipped to win
-
Planting giant cactus to stave off desertification in Brazil
-
Protests expected at German far-right AfD congress
-
Far right scents power as tense France ready for snap vote
-
Suspected leaders of failed Bolivian coup remanded in custody
-
Biden, Trump battle for blue-collar voters as steel merger looms
-
Biles one step closer to Paris with day one US gymnastics trials lead
-
Union says Boeing penny-pinching has hurt supply chain
-
US, allies condemn N.Korea for sanctions-busting arms sales to Russia
-
Colombia into Copa quarters after Costa Rica romp
-
England's Rai and USA's Bhatia share PGA Detroit lead
-
Danes shoot 60 to join five-way tie for LPGA pairs lead
-
Messi to miss Argentina-Peru Copa clash: team
-
Global stocks mixed as elections heat up
![US issues rare criticism of India in religious freedom report](https://www.portugalcolonial.pt/media/shared/articles/bc/5c/90/US-issues-rare-criticism-of-India-i-191711.jpg)
US issues rare criticism of India in religious freedom report
The United States offered rare criticism of close partner India in a report published Wednesday on religious freedom, while also voicing alarm over rising bigotry worldwide against both Jews and Muslims.
Secretary of State Antony Blinken unveiled the annual report and said that the United States was also facing its own sharp increase of both anti-Semitism and Islamophobia in connection to the Gaza war.
"In India, we see a concerning increase in anti-conversion laws, hate speech, demolitions of homes and places of worship for members of minority faith communities," Blinken said.
The US ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, Rashad Hussain, faulted efforts by Indian police.
In India, "Christian communities reported that local police aided mobs that disrupted worship services over accusations of conversion activities, or stood by while mobs attacked them and then arrested the victims on conversion charges," he said.
The United States for decades has sought warmer ties with India, seeing the fellow democracy as a bulwark against China, with President Joe Biden embracing Prime Minister Narendra Modi, a Hindu nationalist who recently secured a third term.
Despite the public criticism in the report, few expect the State Department to take action on India when it drafts its annual blacklist of countries over religious freedom later this year.
The State Department also raised concerns about countries that are on the list, including India's historic rival Pakistan, where Blinken condemned blasphemy laws that "help foster a climate of intolerance and hatred that can lead to vigilantism and mob violence."
Blinken noted that in the United States, hate crimes against both Muslims and Jews "have gone up dramatically."
He also singled out EU member Hungary, led by nationalist Viktor Orban, saying that "officials continue to use anti-Semitic tropes and anti-Muslim rhetoric and they penalize members of religious groups who criticise the government."
He said that nine other European nations "effectively ban some forms of religious clothing in public spaces."
He did not name the countries, although France has been at the forefront on restricting full-face veils worn by some Muslim women.
J.Oliveira--PC