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India labelled ‘partly free’ as UN experts urge US to designate it as CPC
They claimed that India was a ‘country of particular concern’ over alleged human rights violations.
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Pranavi Sharma - Fri, 18, Jul 2025
- 00:30 EDT
- 6
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The event, held on July 17 and attended by over 100 congressional staffers, featured strong criticism of India's alleged democratic backsliding. / IAMC
United Nations officials, human rights commissioners, and advocacy groups urged the U.S. State Department to designate India as a ‘Country of Particular Concern’ (CPC), at a Congressional Briefing on Capitol Hill, citing alleged violations of religious freedom and human rights.
The event, held on July 17 and attended by over 100 congressional staffers, featured strong criticism of India's alleged democratic backsliding and its treatment of minorities. India was described as "partly free" by Freedom House during the session.
Professor Nicolas Levrat, UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, said India “is currently not living up to [its] appellation” as the world’s largest democracy. He alleged that the Indian government is failing to protect minorities also creating conditions that “put them at risk, not only as regards their way of life, but also as regards their very life”.
Levrat accused the Indian government of failing to respond to a 2024 letter sent by him and two other UN Special Rapporteurs that raised concerns about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s alleged use of hate speech during elections. The letter also cited inaction by state police and the Electoral Commission in addressing formal complaints.
“Despite its commitment as a Member State of the UN, the Indian Government never answered this allegation letter,” Levrat said, calling on elected officials to pressure governments to uphold human rights obligations.
Annie Boyajian, president of Freedom House, claimed India’s democratic rating has fallen sharply, with its score dropping 15 points since 2014. “India’s score dropped by 3 points [this year] because of challenges to the political opposition during Parliamentary elections in the spring,” she said. Boyajian also noted that India is “the only democracy we have tracked that is involved in transnational repression,” citing 14 documented incidents since 2014. However, it was not clear which data she was attributing to.
She urged the U.S. to designate India as a CPC and to impose sanctions on individuals and entities responsible for rights violations. Boyajian also called for repeal of anti-conversion laws and better protections for religious minorities.
Ed O’Donovan, senior adviser to the UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders, said India’s counterterrorism laws have been “weaponized to crush dissent” and labeled the treatment of activists as “wanton cruelty.” He cited the Bhima Koregaon case, the closure of thousands of NGOs, and arrests in Jammu and Kashmir under the UAPA law. “Indian authorities have perverted the concept of due process and turned it into punishment,” he said.
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O’Donovan said India has received 40 letters from the Special Rapporteur’s office since 2020—one of the highest totals globally—but responded to only 20 percent.
Dr. Asif Mahmood, vice chair of USCIRF, stated in pre-recorded remarks that USCIRF has been recommending CPC status for India since 2020. He urged Congress to investigate alleged transnational repression, including assassination plots targeting Sikh activists abroad.
“From majoritarianism to oligarchy to anti-democratic governance, Modi has used every tool in the authoritarian playbook to crush the spirit of Indian democracy,” said Ria Chakrabarty of Hindus for Human Rights.
The event was co-sponsored by a coalition of human rights organizations including the Indian American Muslim Council, Genocide Watch, and the New York State Council of Churches.
Speakers at the event. / IAMC
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