Religious freedom: State Dept. cites 8 ‘countries of particular concern’
September 27, 2011
In its recently-released July-December 2010 International Religious Freedom Report, the US State Department has designated eight nations as “countries of particular concern” (CPCs) because of egregious violations of religious freedom.
The eight are Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Uzbekistan.
In April, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom had recommended that the State Department designate 14 nations--Burma, China, Egypt, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam--as CPCs.
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Further information:
- July-December, 2010 International Religious Freedom Report (US Department of State)
- US commission names 14 worst violators of religious freedom (CWN, 4/29)
- Religious Freedom Round-Up (Zenit)
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Posted by: frjpharrington3912 -
Sep. 28, 2011 12:29 AM ET USA
At a banquet last week I heard Paul Diamond, a pro-family lawyer from England speak about the increasing hostility of the state toward Christians in that country. He cited one case in which the court denied a couple the right to adopt a child because of their homophobic Judeo-Christian beliefs; another case in which a company prohibited its employees from wearing Christian symbols such as cross necklace. Anti-discrimination laws, he said, are being inverted to punish Christians in England.
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Posted by: claire5327 -
Sep. 27, 2011 7:23 PM ET USA
Soon, The USA will be amoung them!
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Posted by: Defender -
Sep. 27, 2011 12:33 PM ET USA
I guess taking nine months to compile a report might be a record for the government when all they have to do is follow the news every day. Of course, let's not offend China or Saudi Arabia too much, not that they seem to really care what we or anyone else thinks. One can't help but wonder when countries in the West will make the list. For instance, you can't be a city clerk in NY if you have religious scruples about gay marriage-looking at the list, they probably don't have that problem.
