ICC Note: 

The U.S. Ambassador for Religious Freedom at Large is set to visit India next week following criticism of India’s restrictions on Compassion International. According to Compassion International, the Indian government has restricted their ability to transfer funds to support their projects because the government accuses the group of being involved in converting Hindus to Christianity. Religious freedom in India has significantly declined in recent years with attacks on religious minorities and the places of worship becoming more and more common. Will the ambassador’s visit to India uncover more instances of religious freedom abuses?

12/14/2016 India (The Tribune) – A US religious freedom official is to visit India next week on the heels of criticism by Congressional leaders on restrictions on a Christian organization funding activities in India.

New Delhi, Bangalore and Mumbai are on the itinerary of David Saperstein, the Ambassador at Large for International Religious Freedom, who will discuss religious freedom with government officials, civil society representatives, and leaders of both majority and minority religious communities, the State Department said on Friday.

The announcement of Saperstein’s visit came a day after US Congress members asked India to ease restrictions on Compassion International sending funds to India.

At the House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on Thursday on “government obstacles” to Compassion International, Ed Royce, a Republican Representative, criticized the Indian bureaucracy for restrictions placed on it sending money to related organizations in India.

Royce, who is also the head of the Congressional Caucus on India, said that organization sends 145,000 Indian children $38 every month.

Royce questioned assertions that the Christian organization was involved in conversions.

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