Religious Nationalism Under Fire at New York Events

This past weekend, the Federation of Indian American Christian Organizations of North America (FIACONA) was represented at two significant events in New York City, standing alongside activists, faith leaders, and civil society members to address religious nationalism and the persecution of religious minorities. On Friday, September 20, at 2 PM, an interfaith press conference took place during the Annual United Nations General Assembly. The event, held at 777 United Nations Plaza, was titled “The Scourge of Religious Nationalisms” and aimed to bring attention to the growing dangers posed by religious nationalism worldwide.

The press conference was organized under the banner of The Religious Nationalism Project (TRNP), a collaborative initiative designed to amplify diverse voices and raise awareness about the harm that religious nationalism inflicts on democratic societies. Speakers emphasized the threat posed by religious nationalism, which, they argued, undermines democracy by promoting divisive ideologies that distort religious teachings for political gain.

Several influential figures spoke at the event, including The Reverend Peter Cook, Executive Director of the New York State Council of Churches; The Reverend Neal Christie, Executive Director of FIACONA; Rabbi Barat Ellman from Rabbis for Ceasefire; The Reverend Chloe Breyer, Executive Director of the Interfaith Center of New York; Imam Saffet Catovic, Director of the UN Office of Justice for All; Sahar Alsahlani, Board Member of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)-NY; Nikhil Arur, an organizer from Hindus for Human Rights; and The Reverend Dr. Gideon Jebamani, Board Member of both FIACONA and the New York State Council of Churches.

Here are key excerpts from some of the speakers who highlighted FIACONA’s efforts in combating religious nationalism:

The Reverend Peter Cook

The Reverend Peter Cook, a Board Member of FIACONA and Executive Director of the New York State Council of Churches, emphasized the dangers posed by religious nationalism. He began by stating, “We address the scourge of religious nationalism as heads of state come to New York for the annual United Nations General Assembly.” Cook highlighted the broad coalition of faith groups and civil society organizations that had gathered to denounce the misuse of religion by governments and politicians to advance supremacist agendas.

Cook pointed out that governments often use religion to justify harmful policies. “We are also concerned about his [President Biden’s] tepid willingness to stand up to Narendra Modi and his Hindu nationalist cause, which twists the Hindu faith to justify genocidal actions and ethnocentric violence,” he said, criticizing the U.S. government for not doing enough to address the issue in India. He stressed that religious nationalism is a global problem, noting how various religions—including Christianity, Islam, Buddhism, Hinduism, and Judaism—can be weaponized to suppress religious minorities. “We reject all forms of religious nationalism, as they are anti-democratic and strip billions of people worldwide of their religious freedom,” Cook declared.

The Reverend Neal Christie

The Reverend Neal Christie, Executive Director of FIACONA and a principal of The Religious Nationalisms Project, gave a powerful address linking religious nationalism in India to broader global threats. He criticized Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for creating “a valley of despair for over 1.4 billion people,” by propagating a vision of a Hindu supremacist state. Christie highlighted the deepening oppression faced by India’s marginalized communities, including Dalits, Indigenous peoples, and religious minorities.

Christie referenced a significant legal precedent in India where the Supreme Court declared Lord Ram, a Hindu deity, as a “juristic person,” giving him legal standing in a property dispute over the Babri Masjid in Ayodhya. “Tell me, in what other secular democracy except India, has one God been determined to be a ‘juristic person,’ allowing him to claim ownership of land?” Christie asked. He further stressed the international ramifications of India’s slide toward religious nationalism, quoting Dr. Fernand de Varennes, former UN Special Rapporteur for Minorities, who warned that India is becoming a major global source of instability due to the systemic persecution of minorities.

Christie recounted alarming statistics from 2023, noting a rise in attacks on Christians in India, with religious nationalists targeting over 1,570 Christians and killing more than 200. “Hate crimes have justified the demolition of 300 churches and the extrajudicial arrests of thousands,” he said. Christie called on the United Nations to investigate these violations and to support religious and human rights organizations working on the frontlines. “Now is the time to create an independent multilateral Truth and Reparations commission to investigate the systemic harm inflicted on Christians and other religious minorities by the Indian government,” he urged.

Reverend Dr. Gideon Jebamani

Reverend Dr. Gideon Jebamani, a Dalit advocate and Board Member of FIACONA, spoke about the oppression of Dalit Christians in India, calling it a profound human rights violation. He described how religious nationalism marginalizes minority groups and denies them the right to practice their faith. “In India, religious nationalism excludes all minorities of other faith groups, denying their right to practice their beliefs,” Jebamani said, adding that critics of the government are labeled as “anti-social” or “terrorists” and jailed without trial.

Jebamani condemned the false accusations against Christians in states like Uttar Pradesh, where they are often jailed for allegedly converting others to Christianity. “This is the damage that religious nationalism brings to humanity,” he said. Jebamani called for a united effort to ensure that all people, regardless of their religious affiliation, have the freedom to practice their faith. “Together, let us raise our voices against any religious nationalist movement that seeks to strip away human dignity and freedom,” he concluded.

Pieter Friedrich

Journalist Pieter Friedrich, a Board Member of FIACONA, focused his remarks on the broader global implications of religious nationalism, highlighting the rise of Christian nationalism in the United States. “Here in America, one of our most pressing concerns is the rise of Christian nationalism,” Friedrich said, noting that while it has not yet fully achieved power, its growing influence is cause for alarm. He linked the U.S. experience to the rise of Hindu nationalism in India and Jewish nationalism in Israel, warning of a global trend toward theocratic authoritarianism.

Friedrich noted a recent conference in Washington, D.C., where leaders from Jewish, Christian, and Hindu nationalist movements gathered to forge alliances. “It was a confluence of Jewish, Christian, and Hindu nationalism that vividly illustrated how these movements are forming alliances with each other,” he said. Friedrich emphasized the need for people of faith to stand against the weaponization of religion for political gain. “Our call is to educate, agitate, and organize,” he said, urging those in attendance to continue raising awareness about the dangers of religious nationalism.

The speakers at the event sent a clear message: religious nationalism, in any form, is a threat to democracy and human rights. They called for global action to combat the rise of religious extremism and protect the freedoms of all people, regardless of their faith.