The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has requested that the United States impose sanctions on members of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) linked to religious freedom abuses. this recommendation arrives as the leader of the Hindu nationalist organization prepares for a visit to the United States.
The USCIRF's push for 'Country of Particular Concern' status
The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has formally recommended that the US State Department designate India as a "Country of Particular Concern." According to the report , this recommendation stems from a documented and continuous decline in the conditions of religious freedom throughout India.
Commissioner Gene Mills has specifically urged the Washington administration to avoid high-level diplomatic engagements with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS). Mills argues that leaders of the RSS should not receive diplomatic courtesies, suggesting instead that US authorities prioritize the imposition of sanctions on individuals within the organization responsible for violating religious liberties.
Life imprisonment and the 2025 Waqf Bill
The report highlights a tightening legal environment in India, specifically noting the rise of stringent anti-conversion laws across several states. As reported by the USCIRF, some of these laws carry severe penalties, including the possibility of life imprisonment for those found in violation.
Beyond conversion laws, the US Commission on International Religious Freedom points to the criminalization of digital religious speech and state-led efforts to target minority religious institutions.. The commission specifically cites the 2025 Waqf Bill and the USAME Act as legislative tools used to target madrasas and other minority religious entities.
The RSS-BJP link and the Hindutva ideology
The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) functions as the ideological foundation for India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). dr. Asif Mahmood, Chair of the USCIRF, noted that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is a member of the RSS, which the commission describes as an umbrella organization whose sub-groups have carried out attacks against Muslims and Christians.
The RSS is a right-wing paramilitary volunteer movement that promotes Hindutva. This ideology seeks to define the national identity and culture of India exclusively through the lens of Hindu nationalism, often marginalizing those who do not adhere to this framework .
Bulldozer demolitions and the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act
Human rights documentation cited by the USCIRF reveals a pattern of summary punitive actions in India. This includes the extrajudicial use of bulldozers to demolish the businesses and residences of Muslims without following due legal process.
Furthermore, the commission flags the weaponization of the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act to silence activists. These measures, combined with discriminatory mechanisms for citizenship verification, illustrate the systmeic pressure placed on minority populations according to the USCIRF findings.
Trump's second term and the RSS chief's US visit
These calls for sanctions emerge during a period of friction between Washington and New Delhi during the second term of President Donald Trump. the relationship has been strained by shifting strategic positions and ongoing trade conflicts, adding a layer of geopolitical complexity to the USCIRF's recommendations.
A critical point of uncertainty remains regarding how the US State Department will handle the upcoming visit of the RSS chief. It is currently unknown whether the US government will follow the USCIRF's advicce to withhold diplomatic courtesies or if strategic interests will override the commission's human rights concerns. Additionally, the source does not provide a formal response from the Indian government or the BJP regarding these specific allegations.
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