United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has presented its annual report for 2019.
As noted in the document, the Commission recommended the US Government to urge Uzbekistan to close the Jasliq prison, where many religious prisoners of conscience are held.
It should be recalled that in December 2018, US Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo designated Burma, 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.”
He placed Comoros, Russia, and Uzbekistan on a Special Watch List for governments that have engaged in or tolerated “severe violations of religious freedom.” What are the violations, Pompeo did not specify.
“In far too many places across the globe, individuals continue to face harassment, arrests, or even death for simply living their lives in accordance with their beliefs. The United States will not stand by as spectators in the face of such oppression. Protecting and promoting international religious freedom is a top foreign policy priority of the Trump Administration,” Pompeo said.
The head of the State Department noted that safeguarding religious freedom is vital to ensuring peace, stability, and prosperity. These designations, according to him, are aimed at improving the lives of individuals and the broader success of their societies. Nevertheless, he did not specify what Washington would do with the countries on the list of “violators”, whether it intends to impose any sanctions on them or not.
