USCIRF Statement on Mob Lynching of Muslim Man in India
In response to the reported murder of Tabrez Ansari by a mob in the eastern state of Jharkhand in India, United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) Chair Tony Perkins issued the following statement:
“We condemn in the strongest terms this brutal murder, in which the perpetrators reportedly forced Ansari to say Hindu chants as they beat him for hours. Ansari later died from the injuries he suffered due to this horrific attack. We call on the Indian government to take concrete actions that will prevent this kind of violence and intimidation by a thorough investigation of Ansari’s murder as well as the local police’s handling of the case. Lack of accountability will only encourage those who believe they can target religious minorities with impunity.”
In its most recent Annual Report, released in April, USCIRF again placed India on its Tier 2 for engaging in or tolerating religious freedom violations that meet at least one of the elements of the “systematic, ongoing, egregious” standard used to designate “countries of particular concern,” or CPCs, under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA). The report details numerous concerns in Jharkhand, including its anti-conversion law and mob violence against religious minorities.…
SEE ALSO:
- Harsh Mander Files PIL In Jharkhand HC Seeking Steps To Curb Mob Lynching (Jun 26, 2019, Live Law)
https://www.livelaw.in/top-stories/harsh-mander-pil-jharkhand-hc-curb-mob-lynching-145919 - Cow Vigilantism in India: Two Men Thrashed by Gau Rakshaks Near Gurugram Over Suspicion of Carrying Beef (Jun 27, 2019, Latestly)
https://www.latestly.com/india/news/cow-vigilantism-in-india-two-men-thrashed-by-gau-rakshaks-near-gurugram-over-suspicion-of-carrying-beef-962115.html - 44 accused to be charged with sedition for stir that rocked Bulandshahr (Jun 29, 2019, Siasat)
https://www.siasat.com/news/44-accused-be-charged-sedition-stir-rocked-bulandshahr-1529984/ - ‘Don’t Deflect’: Tweeple on PM’s Comment Over Jharkhand Lynching (Jun 27, 2019, The Quint)
https://www.thequint.com/elections/social-dangal/dont-deflect-condemn-twitter-on-pms-jharkhand-statement
