Reform USCIRF to Ensure IRFA 1998 Compliance

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Major Concerns
1. Conflict of Interest
2. Inconsistent & Partial Reporting
3. Error of Omission
3. Minor Concern
1. Error of Commission
4. Reform Recommendations
5. Why Reform?

Introduction:             

What are USCIRF and IRFA?
In 1998, The United States Congress passed International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) and created The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) to advocate “Freedom of thought, conscience, and religion” detailed in IRFA 1998. Congress has vested its “symbolic capital”, and its right to exercise “symbolic violence” in hands of USCIRF.  It is USCIRFs obligation to prepare each and every report in compliance with section 202(a) (2) of the IRFA 1998. Every formal submission of USCIRF report carries an IRFA 1998 compliance statement. [(1)] [(2)] 

Advocacy is an act of arguing or pleading on behalf of a cause. Sectional advocacy groups represent interest of all members, and its report should plead on behalf of all members. In an intra-member conflict, Sectional group’s advocacy report is obligated to present both sides in fair and balanced manner. The easiest way for a sectional advocacy group to lose credibility is to appear one-sided in an intra-member conflict. Many sectional groups fall apart because it is hijacked by dominant members, and it is used as a tool to further their interest at cost of other members.

USCIRF is a sectional advocacy group championing “Freedom of Religion” on behalf of all religions. In a conflict between two religious groups, it is obligated to present views of both sides in a fair and balanced manner. IRFA 1998 compliance is to ensure that USCIRF is championing “Freedom of all Religions”.

What is the purpose of this blog?

This blog is advocating structural reforms and process re-engineering at USCIRF in order to ensure it's compliance with IRFA 1998. It highlights problems with current structure, process and reports.

This blog is not about commission’s conclusion with respect to India. It offers no opinion on that matter. It's focus is on "process" and not "outcome". USCIRF 2009 India report is used because it serves as an excellent illustration highlighting need for reforms. 

Rebutting USCIRF 2001-2015 India Report

Can USCIRF treat 1-true-faith & false-faiths equally?

USCIRF is supported and promoted by christian fundamentalist outfits. Many USCIRF commissioners are high ranking officials of this sectarian outfits causing conflict of Interest and dishonest reporting. For example, In 2005, USCIRF Commissioner,Richard Land,of Southern Bapstist Convention, authored "Imagine! A God Blessed America: What It Would Look Like and How It Could Happen". In the book, He wrote that Hindu culture/tradition is "Superstitious" and "Cruel". In 1999, An Anti-Hindu booklet was produced by the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.^[1][2]  Hindu American foundation published  “Hyperlink to Hinduphobia: Online Hatred, Extremism and Bigotry against Hindus”. It describes International Mission Board's web-site as a major offender.[(3)]

  

We should all respect hate-speech right of private outfits but USCIRF is bound by 1998 IRFA act. As per IRFA law, USCIRF does not have hate-speech right to suppress facts and suggest falsehood. USCIRF annual report carry sign and sealed statement of USCIRF Chair. Making false statements in annual report is equivalent to lying under oath. Appointing sectarians at USCIRF breaches spirit of US Supreme Court's Endorsement test.

Audit USCIRF for breaching Lemon test:- 

 

 

 2001 Rpt Suggesting Falsehood:-

Sources:

http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/Nanavati-I_eng.pdf

http://www.mha.nic.in/pdfs/Nanavati-II_eng.pdf

http://www.livemint.com/Opinion/HG2cMf1rqwdJe2a3M5ANcM/Hindus-dont-always-have-equality-with-minorities.html

http://www.cpsindia.org/index.php/art/120-articles-by-jk-bajaj-and-md-srinivas/towards-a-review-of-the-indian-constitution

http://www.niticentral.com/2014/08/24/communalism-in-secular-constitution-time-for-reform-236483.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_terrorist_incidents_in_Punjab_%28India%29

2001 Rpt Suppressing Facts:-

Double Std. of 2009 Report:-

  Source: http://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/resources/final%20ar2009%20with%20cover.pdf

                          

                         

     2014 Rpt: USCIRF lying under Oath?

            Check: An Unvarnished Analysis of USCIRF 2014 Annual India Report for details.

  

  Debunking 2015 Report:-

  Debunking Sikh Separatist propaganda found in 2016 Report:-

      Check "Rebuttal of Stanford Report's 2002 Gujarat Riots Conviction Rate" for details.

     Check "Rebuttal of Stanford Report's 2002 Gujarat Riots Conviction Rate" for details.

   
  USCIRF white-washing terrorism:-

Sources:http://www.tribuneindia.com/2000/20000803/main1.htm#1

http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/News/PoliticsNation/Geelani-Lashkar-preparing-summer-of-discontent/articleshow/4577693.cms

http://www.dailypioneer.com/30776/In-Kashmir-no-land-for-Hindus.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Batla_House_encounter_case

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Murder_of_Swami_Lakshmanananda
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bodh_Gaya_bombings

 
             USCIRF running riots:-

Is USCIRF in silent alliance? 

USCIRF mum on Fiji getting rid of approx. 100,000 Hindus (i.e 14% of total population).

               Sources:

               http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Church_involvement_in_Fiji_coups

               http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2009/127215.htm

               http://www.state.gov/g/drl/rls/irf/2001/index.htm

               http://www.hafsite.org/resources/human_rights_report   

    

     USCIRF & Khalistani Terrorism:

Sources:

 http://www.esamskriti.com/essay-chapters/How-many-Indians-died-during-the-Khalistani-Movement-1.aspx

  
    



                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                   USCIRF Double Standard:-

Anti-Hindu Modus Operandi:-

Terror victim is portrayed as terrorist :-

USCIRF frequently uses the term "Hindu Terrorism" or "Hindu Extremist"; Thus, Raising the spectre of Hindu terrorist persecuting others but nothing is further from truth. Nearly all terror groups subscribe to anti-Hindu or non-Hindu ideology. Hindus and Hindu temples are the victim of terrorism.

Number of terrorist group active in India:-
Anti-Hindu or Non-Hindu --- 77
Hindu --- 0 
About 60+ terrorist group are actively seeking to cleanse Hindu presence in various parts of India. They have successfully cleansed Hindu presence in 35% of united India territory (i.e Parts of North East, East Bengal, Kashmir Valley, Sindh, West Punjab) but USCIRF keeps paddling twisted narrative. Once the twisted narrative is established, Next logical step is to demand drastic action against Hinduity:-

Source:
USCIRF reports cover 35 year old incidents; Hence,above chart covers fatalities in terrorist violence in India from 1981 to 2016. Leftist and Christianist terror fatalities is understated because it covers period from 1992 to 2016. Leftist terror groups, like NDFB, are dominated by christians and prefer christian way but they are not designated as Christianist. Most leftist terror group oppose Hinduity and support Christianity. Estimate is based on data and description of terror groups found at www.satp.org and wikipedia.



US IRF false-portrayal on Blasphemy & free-speech:-

Methodology:-
1) Create twisted narrative.
2) Demand action based on twisted narrative.
    For example, US IRF creates a twisted free-speech narrative.(4)(5) 
    Next, USCIRF wants to censor free-speech right of Hinduity in India.(6)
  

Sources:
1) http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm#wrapper
2) http://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/filesSourc/USCIRF%202014%20Annual%20Report%20PDF.pdf
3) http://www.state.gov/j/drl/rls/irf/religiousfreedom/index.htm?year=2014&dlid=238494
4) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech_laws_in_India#Legislative_history_of_Section_295.28A.29
5) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hate_speech_laws_in_India#References ( see links from 8 to 34)
6) http://zeenews.india.com/news/india/indias-top-leadership-should-censure-extremist-rhetoric_1864299.html

Sources:
1) http://www.rediff.com/news/interview/wonder-what-they-are-trying-to-hide/20160321.htm
2) http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/Government-defends-denying-visa-to-US-body-tracking-religious-freedom/articleshow/51260272.cms


Double Standard in Foreign Contribution Regulation:-

Future Dictionary Entry: Religious Freedom

Meaning:    Dislike Heathens, Atheists, & Gays
Synonym:  Religious Forcedom
Antonym:   Equality