The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today announced that it has sent a formal letter to Secretary of State Marco Rubio urging the U.S. Department of State to designate India a Country of Particular Concern (CPC) in response to the Indian government’s continued violations of the religious and legal rights of Muslims and other minority faith communities.
CLICK HERE: READ CAIR’S LETTER
The letter comes following the April 8 enactment of the Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025, a controversial law passed by India’s Parliament that authorizes non-Muslims to serve on waqf (Islamic endowment) boards—bodies that manage Islamic charitable endowments—and grants the government sweeping powers to validate or nullify waqf property claims. Muslim organizations across India have denounced the law as a serious threat to the autonomy and preservation of centuries-old Islamic endowment properties. The legislation has already sparked widespread protests across the country.
The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has for the past five consecutive years urged the Department of State to designate India a CPC for engaging in “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations” of religious freedom.
In a statement, CAIR Government Affairs Department Director Robert S. McCaw said:
“Secretary of State Marco Rubio must immediately designate India as a Country of Particular Concern in response to this escalating pattern of state-enabled repression targeting religious minorities. The new Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 is just the latest effort by the Modi government to undermine the rights of India’s 200 million Muslims and to erode their ability to maintain control over sacred institutions that have served their communities for generations.
“From anti-Muslim mob violence to property demolitions and now religious asset seizures, India’s Hindutva-driven leadership is systematically dismantling pluralism. The time for polite diplomacy is over—religious freedom must not be sacrificed to geopolitical convenience. U.S. credibility demands action.”
BACKGROUNDER:
The Waqf (Amendment) Act, 2025 restructures the governance of Islamic endowment boards by mandating the inclusion of non-Muslims and granting the government broader authority to assess the legality of endowment land. Critics argue the law undermines the independence of these boards and risks enabling encroachment or state appropriation of religious properties—such as mosques, shops, and graveyards—many of which were established generations ago without modern legal documentation.
Indian Muslim organizations have warned that the legislation could pave the way for disputes, demolition, or even seizure of endowment assets by hostile political interests. The bill passed despite strong opposition from lawmakers who called it unconstitutional and discriminatory.
CAIR has previously condemned the Indian government’s record of religious repression. In November 2024, CAIR welcomed a landmark ruling by India’s Supreme Court rejecting the practice of so-called “bulldozer justice,” where local authorities arbitrarily demolished homes and businesses—disproportionately Muslim—under the guise of law enforcement without due process. The court affirmed that such acts violated fundamental principles of justice and warned of their selective and retaliatory use.
SEE: CAIR Welcomes Indian Supreme Court Ruling on ‘Bulldozer Justice’ Targeting Muslim Community
In October 2024, CAIR reiterated its call for India to be designated a CPC after the USCIRF again recommended such action. The commission documented systematic discrimination and violence targeting Muslims, Christians, and other minority communities in India.
CAIR also welcomed the findings of an October 2024 survey by the Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) and ReThink Media, which highlighted the harmful effects of Hindutva nationalism on Indian American Muslims, including increased fear, exclusion, and harassment extending beyond India’s borders.
CAIR’s mission is to protect civil rights, enhance understanding of Islam, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR National Deputy Director Edward Ahmed Mitchell, 404-285-9530, e-Mitchell@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com