In a rare statement of US concern over India, Sam Brownback, the US ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, pointed to both physical and online attacks against Muslims. The US Commission on International Religious Freedom, which advises but does not set government policy, last month said that India should be put on a blacklist due to its "dramatic" downturn in religious freedom under Modi. New Delhi sharply rejected the criticism and it is highly unlikely that the State Department would act against India, an increasingly close ally of the United States. Brownback also voiced concern about India's historic rival Pakistan, whose new commission on religious minorities does not include the Ahmadi sect, which has faced years of deadly violence. Pakistan legally declares Ahmadis to be non-Muslims over their belief in a prophet after Mohammed, a departure from orthodox Islam.

Source: Dhaka Tribune May 15, 2020 09:33 UTC