We have seen a significant deterioration in religious freedom conditions in South Asia in recent years. Blasphemy cases, forced conversions, attacks on houses of worship, hate speech, and violence targeting religious minorities are among the long list of religious freedom concerns in the region—particularly in India, Pakistan, Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Bangladesh.

Farahnaz Ispahani joins us to expound upon the myriad of concerns in the region. She is a former member of Parliament in Pakistan, and is currently a Public Policy Scholar at the Woodrow Wilson Center and a Senior Fellow at the Religious Freedom Institute.

Read more about USCIRF’s policy recommendations for all countries mentioned in this episode in the 2021 USCIRF Annual Report