05/07/2026
United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) held a hearing examining deteriorating religious freedom, transnational repression, and Hindu extremist networks operating across borders. USCIRF Commission Board and expert testimony discussed growing concerns surrounding RSS-linked Hindutva extremist structures involved in intimidation, surveillance, and threats targeting Sikh activists and other religious dissidents in diaspora communities.
The USCIRF Commission focused not only on documenting abuses, but also on policy responses available to the United States government. These included stronger use of the Global Magnitsky Act for targeted sanctions against Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) and Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and their proxies connected to serious human rights violations. USCIRF Commission called on State Department and the Executive Branch to increase enforcement of arms restrictions where violations are documented, visa bans, financial sanctions, and expanded monitoring of foreign influence and transnational repression activities occurring on U.S. soil.
The USCIRF hearing helped raise the issue of transnational repression to being treated as a national security and human rights enforcement issue rather than a foreign domestic political matter. The Sikh Assembly thanks the entire USCIRF Commission, expert panelists, and Vice Chair Asif Mahmood for their continued support for the Sikh community.
