Lankford, Colleagues Pen Letter to Secretary Pompeo on USCIRF Recommendations

WASHINGTON, DC- Senator James Lankford (R-OK) led a bipartisan letter to Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ambassador-at-Large for International Religious Freedom Sam Brownback to ask the State Department to consider recommendations made by the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) when determining designations of Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) and placement on the Special Watch List (SWL). CPC and SWL designations by the Secretary of State often differ from USCIRF recommendation. CPC countries are nations engaged in severe violations of religious freedom under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA).  Similarly, an SWL country does not meet all of the CPC criteria, but engages in or tolerates severe violations of religious freedom.

Last year, Senator Lankford authored a provision that was included in the Senate State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs appropriations bill that requires the Secretary of State to provide a report to Congress detailing the rationale behind any discrepancies between the USCIRF recommendations and the Department’s designations.

The Senators wrote: “Both the State Department and USCIRF play important roles in sustaining the United States’ leadership in religious freedom across the globe, including through their annual reports. These reports are invaluable for Members of Congress, other governments, and civil society groups, and help hold bad actors accountable.

This year, USCIRF recommended 14 countries to the State Department for designation as CPCs, including nine that the State Department designated in December 2019—Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan—as well as five others—India, Nigeria, Russia, Syria and Vietnam.

In addition, USCIRF also recommended 15 countries for placement on the Special Watch List. These include four countries that the State Department placed on that list in December 2019—Cuba, Nicaragua, Sudan, and Uzbekistan—as well as 11 other—Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Bahrain, Central African Republic (CAR), Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, and Turkey.”

“These designations are just one of the important tools we can use in our nation’s diplomatic efforts. The United States leads the world in promoting religious freedom, but it is the responsibility of all nations to encourage freedom of religion, belief and conscience worldwide. Reports by the USIRF and the State Department enable the international community to identify atrocities, encourage progress and develop solutions,” the Senators continued.

Lankford was joined in sending the letter with Senators Chris Coons (D-DE), Chuck Grassley (R-IA), Marco Rubio (R-FL), Lindsey Graham (R-SC), Thom Tillis (R-NC), Tim Scott (R-SC), Joni Ernst (R-IA), Jacky Rosen (D-NV), Kevin Cramer (R-ND), Roger Wicker (R-MS), Steve Daines (R-MT), Chris Van Hollen (D-MD), and Joe Manchin (D-WV).

The full text of the letter can be read here.

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Our readers may recall that Hindus for Human Rights was the only Hindu organization in the U.S. that supported the USCIRF recommendation to place India on the Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) list. That action would enable sanctions against specific individuals responsible for egregious violations of religious freedom by selectively targeting bigotry and violence against religious minorities.

Our decision to support USCIRF recommendations was not an easy one to make, as we love our country of origin just as much as any other Indian in the Diaspora. But the current situation in India is one of unbridled majoritarian rule, where almost all institutions meant to equally protect citizens of all faiths, are failing the people. We believe that the only voice of reason that could possibly change the trajectory of the current rulers are the forthright views of its close ally and partner, America, and its lawmakers.

At the end of the day, the State Department may still choose to ignore the bi-partisan Senate letter and the USCIRF recommendation to place India on the CPC list. But the dire situation in India for the minorities must be of ‘particular concern’ to all of us in the Diaspora.