New Delhi (NVI): US Secretary of State, Mike Pompeo, announced that the United States has designated Pakistan and nine other nations as ‘Countries of Particular Concern’ for violation of religious freedom.
Pompeo added that Myanmar, Eritrea, Iran, Nigeria, North Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan were also placed in the blacklist for engaging in or tolerating systematic, ongoing egregious violations of religious freedom.
According to an official statement, four other countries, namely Comoros, Cuba, Nicaragua and Russia have also been added to a Special Watch List as the governments in these countries have engaged in or tolerated severe violation of religious freedom.
The U.S. is unwavering in its commitment to religious freedom. No country or entity should be allowed to persecute people with impunity because of their beliefs. These annual designations show that when religious freedom is attacked, we will act.
— Secretary Pompeo (@SecPompeo) December 7, 2020
Pompeo also said, “The US is unwavering in its commitment to religious freedom. No country or entity should be allowed to persecute people with impunity because of their beliefs. These annual designations show that when religious freedom is attacked, we will act.”
In an official statement, the Secretary of State also informed that, religious freedom is an unalienable right, and the bedrock upon which free societies are built and flourish.
“Today, the United States, a nation founded by those fleeing religious persecution, as the recent Commission on Unalienable Rights report noted, once again took action to defend those who simply want to exercise this essential freedom, ” he added.
Under the US law, nations on the blacklist must make improvements or face sanctions including losses of US government assistance. However, the administration can waive such actions.
Pompeo further said, our work is far complete, adding that the “United States will continue to work tirelessly to end religiously motivated abuses and persecution around the world, and to help ensure that each person, everywhere, at all times, has the right to live according to the dictates of conscience.”
-RJV
