US Adds Pakistan to Blacklist For Religious Freedom Violations

US Adds Pakistan to Blacklist For Religious Freedom Violations

News:

US adds Pakistan, China to its blacklist for religious freedom violations

Facts:

• US Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) recommended that Pakistan be designated as a “country of concern” because of its alleged serious violations of religious freedom.
• US, in Nov 2018 has 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.
• The United States removed Uzbekistan from the list but kept it on the watch list.
• Simultaneously, the Trump Administration also designated al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula, al-Qaeda, al-Shabab, Boko Haram, the Houthis, ISIS, ISIS-Khorasan, and the Taliban as Entities of Particular Concern.

Significance:

• In many countries across the globe, individuals continue to face harassment, arrests, or even death for simply living their lives in accordance with their beliefs. Protecting and promoting international religious freedom will ensure there is no violation of Human rights.
• Safeguarding religious freedom is vital to ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity
• Designations are aimed at improving the lives of individuals and the broader success of their societies.

About USCIRF

• USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government commission, the first of its kind in the world, dedicated to defending the universal right to freedom of religion or belief abroad.
• USCIRF reviews the facts and circumstances of religious freedom violations and makes policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and the Congressional leadership of both political partie