USCIRF has made a big recommendation against India. America’s United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has demanded a ban on Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and India’s intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing in its 2026 annual report. The commission has appealed to the Trump administration to take immediate action against both the organizations.
Serious questions have been raised in the report on the functioning of RSS and RAW. It has also been recommended to declare India as a ‘Country of Special Concern’, ban the sale of arms and link future military-trade relations to religious freedom. This report has been released earlier this month.
Demand for ban on RSS, proposal to confiscate property and visa ban
USCIRF has said that possible sanctions to be imposed on RSS include confiscation of the organization’s assets in America and a complete ban on the entry of its members into America. The Commission says that religious freedom is being affected by the functioning of RSS.
Old allegations against Sikh separatists repeated
The report also demands strict action against the Research and Analysis Wing. Citing its previous report of 2025, the Commission said that RAW has been involved in conspiracies to kill Sikh separatists. On this basis, the recommendation to ban RAW has also been reiterated.
Appeal to declare India as a country of special concern
USCIRF has demanded the Trump administration to include India in the category of ‘Country of Particular Concern’. India is included in the list of 18 countries that the Commission has recommended for designation as countries of special concern. This list also includes Afghanistan, Myanmar, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Libya, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Vietnam.
Recommends ban on US arms sales and trade
The Commission has recommended that arms sales to India be banned on the basis of alleged harassment of American citizens. Also, all future military and trade relations should be linked to the issue of religious freedom.
USCIRF status and nature of reports
USCIRF is an independent US government commission that monitors religious freedom internationally and makes recommendations to the White House. However, the White House is not bound to accept these recommendations. The Commission has continuously raised questions on religious freedom in India for the last seven years.
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