The United States has on Tuesday, blacklisted Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, China and other seven countries for a particular concern over “systematic, ongoing and egregious violation of religious”.
The Trump administration also blacklisted al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda, Boko Haram, al-Shabab, ISIS, the Houthis, Isis-Khorasan and the Taliban as an Entities of the particular concern over “religious freedom violation”.
US secretary of state Mike Pompeo 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’.”
In an official statement, Pompeo further said, “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’.”
After observing individuals facing harassment, death and arrest instead for a simply living lives in an accordance with people believes, Pompeo asserted the US will not continue to see and stand by as a viewer or spectators over such oppression.
Pompeo said that promoting and protecting an international religious freedom is on top of foreign policy of the Trump administration.
Pompeo further added, “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 organizations to harness global attention and motivate forceful action to advance respect for the human right of religious freedom.”
While asserting the safeguarding of religious freedom is about to ensure stability, prosperity and peace, Pompeo further stated that these designations aimed at enhancing and improving the lives of people and further success of people’s society.
Pompeo said, “I recognize that several designated countries are working to improve their respect for religious freedom; I welcome such initiatives and look forward to continuing the dialogue.”