The US State Department’s decision to not designate Nigeria and India as having engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom has been subject to sharp criticism.

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government agency, said both countries repeatedly meet the legal standard to be designated as a Country of Particular Concern and there was “no justification” for omitting them from its annual religious freedom watchlist.

Other advocates of religious freedom expressed concerned that the Biden administration is turning a blind eye to the facts on the ground.

The situation of religious or belief communities in Nigeria has been dire for several years, with the focus on atrocities perpetrated by the Islamist Boko Haram and the Fulani militia.

The violations in India, on the other hand, has been receiving very little attention. This is despite concerning reports on atrocity crimes against Muslim and Christian communities.