The US Department of State renewed the placement of Comoros, Russia, and Uzbekistan on its Special Watch List (SWL) for governments that have engaged in or tolerated “severe violations of religious freedom”.
As it is noted in the report of the State Department, the protection of religious freedom is a top Trump Administration foreign policy priority. Persecution and discrimination on the basis of religion or belief exists in every region of the world.
“The United States continues to work diligently to promote religious freedom and combat abuses,” the statement reads.
On December 18, 2019, the Department of State re-designated Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, 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.”
Comoros, Russia, and Uzbekistan were again placed on the Special Watch List (SWL), as they were “engaged in or tolerated severe violations of religious freedom.” Cuba, Nicaragua, Nigeria, and Sudan were also added to this list.
“Our actions have been, and will continue to be, consistent with our position on religious freedom. No country, entity, or individual should be able to persecute people of faith without accountability. We have acted, and we will continue to do so,” the statement concludes.
