India risks religious violence, says UN envoy

“Today there is a real risk that similar communal violence might happen again unless incitement to religious hatred and political exploitation of communal tensions are effectively prevented,” said Jahangir, who is a Pakistani rights activist.

Over the past two decades, India has suffered major religious riots between its different communities, like in Gujarat in 2002.

“Even today there is increasing ghettoization and isolation of Muslims in certain areas,” she said.

But many of the perpetuators of religious riots have never been jailed amid a slow judicial system and what critics say is government inertia.

Jahangir criticised the slowness of government inquiries into previous religious clashes.

Jahangir criticsed law enforcement authorities for being reluctant to act against perpetuators of religious violence.

“At the same time, organised groups based on religious ideologies have unleashed the fear of mob violence in many parts of the country,” she said.

“This institutionalised impunity for those who exploit religion and impose their religious intolerance on others has made peaceful citizens, particularly the minorities, vulnerable and fearful.”

Jahangir, known as the United Nations Special Rapporteur on freedom of religion, highlighted attacks on Indians marrying people from different castes and religions in northern India, and attacks on Christians, lower castes and tribal people in Orissa in 2007.