U.S. lambastes nations for human rights abuses, lack of religious freedoms

Although escaped being labeled with these eight nations some of the nations that were mentioned with caution were among others Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as facing significant challenges in upholding religious freedoms.

Ahmadiyya Times | News Watch | Int'l Desk
Source/Credit: All Headline News
By Tejinder Singh | September 13, 2011

The United States top diplomat on Tuesday released the annual mandated International Religious Freedom Report designating eight nations as “Countries of Particular Concern,” in Washington, D.C.

The United States top diplomat on Tuesday released the annual mandated International Religious Freedom Report designating eight nations as “Countries of Particular Concern,” in Washington, D.C.
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Presenting the report, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said, “We reaffirm the role that religious freedom and tolerance play in building stable and harmonious societies,” cautioning, “When governments crack down on religious expression, when politicians or public figures try to use religion as a wedge issue, or when societies fail to take steps to denounce religious bigotry and curb discrimination based on religious identity, they embolden extremists and fuel sectarian strife.”


Citing Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, and Uzbekistan as Countries of Particular Concern, Assistant Secretary of State for Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor Michael Posner told journalists, “All of these countries have been long-term, chronic, and egregious violators of religious freedom.”

Although escaped being labeled with these eight nations some of the nations that were mentioned with caution were among others Afghanistan, Iraq, Pakistan, Russia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as facing significant challenges in upholding religious freedoms.

According to the report, religious minorities continue to be persecuted in Pakistan through anti-blasphemy laws and Posner said, "In Pakistan, the government has not reformed a blasphemy law that has been used to prosecute religious minorities and, in some cases, Muslims who promote tolerance or to settle personal vendettas.”

“This year, there have also been several assassinations of those who called for reform of the blasphemy laws, including the Punjab Governor Salman Taseer and Shahbaz Bhatti, the minister for minorities, whom Secretary Clinton and I met in February before he was killed," added Posner.

Asked to comment why Pakistan was not labeled a Country of Particular Concern, Posner said, “We certainly consider adding any country, and there – and we are very mindful,” adding, “We have great concern about the overall situation of extremism and intolerance in Pakistan, and we stand ready to work with the government to try to address that.”


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