WASHINGTON – Congresswoman Ilhan Omar (D-MN), who visited Pakistan on a non-state department sanctioned visit recently, has pushed along a resolution that would declare India as a country of particular concern in violation of religious freedom. This resolution has been in the works for 3 straight years, but ultimately nothing has materialized. This push forward by Omar represents another call to the Biden administration for India to be designated as a violator of religious freedom. Whether the resolution will go even further along is to be determined.
Recently, Omar visited Pakistan and spoke with high-ranking Pakistani officials, Prime Minister Imran Khan being chief among them. She also has a history of siding with Pakistan in the past, so this resolution does not come as a total surprise.
The details of the resolution go over how India has allegedly targeted Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and other religious minorities and thus, direct human rights violations. This has been said to be an issue for the past few years as mentioned before, the resolution has been trying to be sent through to the president for 3 consecutive years.
Omar gave insight into why she believes this resolution must be passed along and brought to President Biden’s attention:
“The Indian government must be held responsible for human rights violations against religious and cultural minorities…In recent years, the Indian government has been escalating repressive policies against Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, and Dalits. It is past time for the State Department to acknowledge the reality of the situation in India and formally designate India as a Country of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act.”
