America designates Pakistan, China, Russia, Saudi Arabia, and other 12 countries as ‘countries of particular concern’ for religious freedom

(Left side) US Secretary of State Antony Blinken

Washington (USA) – US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said around the world, Governments and non-state actors stifle individuals’ freedom of religion or belief to exploit opportunities for political gain. These actions sow division, undermine economic security, and threaten political stability and peace. The US will not stand by in the face of these abuses. He also announced that there is a particular concern about religious freedom in 12 countries namely Pakistan, China, Russia, Myanmar, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

#UnitedStates designates #Pakistan, #China, #Myanmar and 9 others as ‘countries of particular concern’ for religious freedomhttps://t.co/qe0wQmKJag

— India TV (@indiatvnews) December 3, 2022

1. Blinken said that in various countries of the world, Governmental or non-governmental agencies harass, threaten, imprison or kill citizens for religious reasons. Countries that effectively protect religious freedom and other human rights are more peaceful, stable, prosperous, and more reliable partners of the United States than those that do not.

2. The US also designated al-Shabab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISIS-Greater Sahara, ISIS-West Africa, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam wal-Muslimin, the Taliban, and the Wagner Group based on its actions in the Central African Republic as ‘Entities of Particular Concern’.

Editorial Viewpoints

• Earlier, the US had made a similar statement about India. India reprimanded the US for that. Therefore, The US has not listed India, but has listed some countries where religious freedom is trampled upon in the real sense !
• The US should speak about the injustice caused by racism in its own country while talking about religious freedom in other countries !