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Religion a major cause of conflict in India: US report

A United States government report has listed India among countries where religion is a major cause of conflict.

"In India Hindu nationalists attacked Muslim shrines in a campaign partly motivated by the electoral struggle of the Hindu nationalist party against its political competitors, mostly Hindus themselves," the report says.

Though the report did not name any political party, it is quite apparent the reference is to the Babri Masjid destruction.

The report was prepared for President Bill Clinton and Secretary of State Madeleine Albright by the Advisory Committee on Religious Freedom Abroad, established a year ago.

Earlier, Albright had remarked she was taking steps to ensure that the US efforts 'to advance religious freedom are integrated into the country's broader foreign policy'.

The report says followers of all major religions in the world -- Christians, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Buddhists, Baha'i -- suffer detention, torture and death. It cited Iran as an example, saying that there was 'severe and sustained discriminatory practices' against followers of the Baha'i faith.

The report claimed Iran has taken steps to eliminate the Baha'i adherents by denying them the right to assemble and confiscating their property. More than 200 Baha'is have been killed since the 1979 revolution in Iran.

"The climate of intimidation in Iran has severely affected certain Christian, Jewish and Zoroastrian communities whose members have been victims of harassment, persecution and extrajudicial killing," the study said.

The report also noted that several European countries, including Belgium, France and Germany, have recently established commissions of inquiry on religious sects, partly in response to the fear of violent cults.

UNI

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