US insists on freedom of religion, warns violators of religious rights

The United States on Wednesday cautioned countries of the world against violation of religious rights.

The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, in a statement on Wednesday titled, ‘Religious Freedom Designations’, listed countries that the US government has placed on the Watch List of governments violating religious rights of citizens. The statement identified certain governments as “Countries of Particular Concern for having engaged in or tolerated ‘systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.”

The US, in the statement by Blinken, listed Russia, China, Algeria, Comoros, Cuba, Nicaragua and for others as countries placed on a Special Watch List of governments that have indulged in or tolerated “severe violations of religious freedom.”

The US further identified some terrorist groups in the world. The statement classified Al-Shabab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISIS, ISIS-Greater Sahara, ISIS-West Africa, Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin, and the Taliban as Entities of Particular Concern.

Blinken declared: “The United States will not waiver in its commitment to advocate for freedom of religion or belief for all and in every country.

“In far too many places around the world, we continue to see governments harass, arrest, threaten, jail, and kill individuals simply for seeking to live their lives in accordance with their beliefs.

“This Administration is committed to supporting every individual’s right to freedom of religion or belief, including by confronting and combating violators and abusers of this human right”.

The US Secretary of State maintained: “the challenges to religious freedom in the world today are structural, systemic, and deeply entrenched. They exist in every country. They demand sustained global commitment from all who are unwilling to accept hatred, intolerance, and persecution as the status quo. They require the international community’s urgent attention.

“We will continue to press all governments to remedy shortcomings in their laws and practices and to promote accountability for those responsible for abuses.

“The United States remains committed to working with governments, civil society organizations, and members of religious communities to advance religious freedom around the world and address the plight of individuals and communities facing abuse, harassment, and discrimination on account of what they believe, or what they do not believe”.