State Dept. chides eight countries on religious freedom

WASHINGTON (RNS) The State Department on Tuesday (Sept. 13) designated
eight nations as the most serious violators of religious freedom, naming
the same countries as the Bush administration.

The list of "Countries of Particular Concern" includes Burma, China,
Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Uzbekistan; all but
Saudi Arabia and Uzbekistan also received sanctions.

While Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton has issued previous
reports on religious freedom, Tuesday's report represented the first
time the Obama administration has published its list of the world's
worst violators.

The mid-year report focused mostly on problems and progress during
the second half of 2010. But it also included more recent developments,
including the assassinations of prominent critics of Pakistan's
blasphemy law and the bombing of a church in Egypt that killed 22 people
and injured about 100 more.

"It is our core conviction that religious tolerance is one of the
essential elements not only of a sustainable democracy but of a peaceful
society that respects the rights and dignity of each individual,"
Clinton told reporters at a press briefing. 

The independent U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom
hailed the department's CPC designations while reiterating its longtime
calls to consider expanding the list.

"Repeating the current list continues glaring omissions, such as
Pakistan and Vietnam," said Leonard Leo, USCIRF chair.

Last April, the bipartisan watchdog panel called for six additional
countries to be added: Egypt, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Turkmenistan and
Vietnam.

Asked about USCIRF's concerns, Assistant Secretary of State Michael
Posner said the list is "subject to constant review."

"We've also identified some other countries where we have concerns
and we're going to work with governments but they're not on the list as
of yet," he said.

The Rev. Suzan Johnson Cook, the administration's new ambassador at
large for religious freedom, said her upcoming trips will include visits
to two countries on the CPC list -- China and Saudi Arabia. She also
plans to gather international and interfaith leaders to work on
implementing a U.N. resolution that calls for countering religious
intolerance with education, interfaith dialogue and public debate.
"Everyone must have the right to believe," she said, "as well as the
right to manifest their belief."