Religious freedom violators list released

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has released its latest report on religious freedom. The report citing the changes that took place after the Taliban took control of Afghanistan last year, ranked Afghanistan among the worst violators of religious freedom in the world.

"Regime change in the country means worsening conditions for religious freedom and a significant deterioration in human rights in general," the commission said in a statement.

Jews and most Hindus and Sikhs have fled the country. Christian converts also continue to operate secretly for fear of retaliation and persecution by the Taliban.

The commission's 2022 report listed genocide as an example of religious persecution, from genocide to accusations of blasphemy and punishment for listening to certain religious teachings.

During a virtual news conference Monday, they also noted their current concerns about Russia (formerly known as a country of particular concern) and its invasion of Ukraine.

In another virtual press conference, Republican Sen. Marco Rubio of Florida reiterated the commission's findings on Russia and the attack on President Vladimir Putin, which has led to the persecution of non-Russian Orthodox Christians and the destruction of Jewish cultural sites and Holocaust memorials. 

The commission also reiterated its call for the Republic of Central Africa to be included in the "Special Monitoring List". It has also asked the US State Department to redefine the following countries as specially monitored: Myanmar (officially listed as Burma), China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.

 

_{Source and Credit: Christian Today}