US Adds Pakistan and China to Its Blacklist of Religious Freedom Violation
Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State has indicated that the United States is committed towards working with governments, religious leaders and civil society organisations to advance religious freedom across the world.
Religion has become an important factor in most of the important democracies of the world and that is evident from the recent move by the Trump administration, when it designated Pakistan, China, Saudi Arabia and seven others as countries of particular concern, who are engaged in ongoing, systematic and shocking violations of religious freedom.
At the same time, the Trump administration has also designated al-Nusra Front, Boko Haram, ISIS, ISIS-Khorasan, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, al-Qaeda, al-Shabab, the Houthis and the Taliban as terrific entities of particular concern.
Mike Pompeo, Secretary of State has said, “On November 28, 2018, I designated Burma (Myanmar), China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, 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”.
He also said in the statement, “I also placed Comoros, Russia, and Uzbekistan on a Special Watch List for governments that have engaged in or tolerated 'severe violations of religious freedom”.
Pompeo also made it clear that United State would not stand as a silent spectator in the face of such oppression, he also indicated that the US is observing that in many places across the globe, individuals are continuing to face harassment, arrests or even death for living their simple lives in accordance with their faith and beliefs.
He also said that protecting and promoting international religious freedom is one of the top priorities of the foreign policy of Trump administration.
“In July, I hosted the first-ever Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, which brought together some 85 like-minded governments and more than 400 civil society organisations to harness global attention and motivate forceful action to advance respect for the human right of religious freedom”, Mike Pompeo added.
Safeguarding religious freedom is important in order to ensure peace, stability and prosperity across the world. Mike Pompeo also asserted that these moves of the administration are aimed at improving the lives of individuals and the broader success of the respective societies.
Pompeo said, “I recognise that several designated countries are working to improve their respect for religious freedom; I welcome such initiatives and look forward to continuing the dialogue”.
He also indicated that the United States is committed towards working with governments, religious leaders and civil society organisations to advance religious freedom across the world.