Unic Press UK: The United States Department of State has reviewed its list of nations that allegedly violates religious freedom.
In a press statement ‘United States Takes Action Against Violators of Religious Freedom’ on Friday, the U.S. Secretary of State, Michael Pompeo said:
“… the Department of State re-designated Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as Countries of Particular Concern under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 for having engaged in or tolerated “systematic, ongoing, [and] egregious violations of religious freedom.” The Department renewed the placement of Comoros, Russia, and Uzbekistan on a Special Watch List (SWL) for governments that have engaged in or tolerated “severe violations of religious freedom,” and added Cuba, Nicaragua, Nigeria, and Sudan to this list. Sudan was moved to the SWL due to significant steps taken by the civilian-led transitional government to address the previous regime’s “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.” Finally, we designated al-Nusra Front, al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula, al-Qa’ida, al-Shabab, Boko Haram, the Houthis, ISIS, ISIS-Khorasan, and the Taliban as Entities of Particular Concern.”
Pompeo added that the protection of religious freedom remains a top priority of the Donald Trump administration’s foreign policy. He condemned persecution and discrimination against anyone or group on the basis of religion or belief.
