International Society for Peace and Justice gathers Harford County support against religious freedom injustices in India

May 24—The International Society for Peace and Justice held an event earlier this month where Harford County residents signed petition letters written to state congress members to work toward ending ongoing abuses of human rights and assaults of religious freedom in India.

"We are trying to preempt and prevent the genocide in India," said Harford County resident Rehan Khan, a physician and president of the ISPJ. "And we are trying to reach out to our representatives so that they write to the State Department to act accordingly."

Letters were signed by hundreds of people at a Eid-ul-Fitr celebration, marking the end of Ramadan, at Edgewood's Richlin Catering & Event Center on May 2 addressed to U.S. Sens. Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, as well as U.S. Rep. Dutch Ruppersberger, who represents part of Harford County.

Maryland Del. Steve Johnson, of Harford County, was in attendance and participated in the signing of the letters.

The 2022 annual report from the The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended India to be recognized as one of 15 "countries of particular concern" because of "systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations" caused by or tolerated by their government.

According to the report, India's religious freedom conditions "significantly worsened" in 2021 due to the government promoting a Hindu-nationalist agenda that negatively affected "Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Dalits and other religious minorities."

"India belongs to the people of India irrespective of their religious background," Khan said.