Anti-conversion laws: Admonition to Modi

For almost a decade, Narendra Modi, now India’s prime minister, was not allowed to enter the United States of America. However, at the end of June, he was able to visit US President Joe Biden in Washington at eye level, followed by a state banquet and an appearance before the US Congress – an expression of close diplomatic relations.

Modi, as Chief Minister of Gujarat in 2002, had apparently failed to live up to his responsibilities in the wake of the worst riots against Muslims with hundreds of deaths, the displacement of 150,000 people, and the destruction of 270 mosques: The local security authorities remained inactive for days. Modi later spoke of “justified popular anger”, which strengthened accusations that under his government, intervention against the violence had not only been passively avoided, but even actively prevented. In 2005, the USA denied him entry into the country because of “responsibility for serious violations of religious freedom”.

The recent ceremonial reception was not preceded by any distancing, remorse, or even reparation. On the contrary, his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) stands for Hindu nationalist politics at the expense of religious minorities in particular. Observers fear a gradual transition to an authoritarian system. Only its power as well as strategic and economic interests prompted the US hosts to roll out the red carpet – but not without criticism by Human Rights Organizations. They pointed in particular to the anti-conversion laws that criminalize advertising for confessions other than Hinduism. These laws are now in force in twelve states in India and on their basis, there are regular arrests of Christian community leaders. The International Society for Human Rights appeals to the responsible politicians to advocate for the abolition of these unjust laws in diplomatic talks.