The US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has expressed concern over the Indian government's notification of rules implementing the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, saying no person should be denied citizenship based on religion or belief.

The rules implementing the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 were notified earlier this month, paving the way for granting citizenship to immigrants.

Stephen Schneck said in a statement, "The problematic CAA creates a religious requirement for asylum seekers in India fleeing from neighbouring countries."

Schenck said, "While the Uniform Citizenship Law provides a fast track to citizenship for Hindus, Parsis, Sikhs, Buddhists, Jains, and Christians, the law excludes Muslims."

"The CAA is about granting citizenship, not withdrawing it. It addresses statelessness, provides human dignity, and upholds human rights." External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Radhir Jaiswal recently stressed that the law is an internal matter for India.

India has also refused the right to appear before the US Commission on International Religious Freedom to comment on India's human rights record.

"If the law was truly intended to protect persecuted religious minorities, it would include Rohingya Muslims from Burma, Ahmadiyya Muslims from Pakistan, or Hazara Shiaa from Afghanistan, among others." Schneck said in his statement. "No one should be denied citizenship based on religion or belief."