WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken on Wednesday redesignated Pakistan as a country of particular concern (CPC) for violating religious freedom and also rebranded the Taliban as a reality of particular concern.
The Trump administration first placed Pakistan on this list in December 2018 and retained it in 2020 as well. The Biden administration, which came to power in January this time, has retained the old list with two changes, adding Russia and removing Sudan from the CPC order.
Countries are listed in this order for allegedly engaging in or permitting “ methodical, ongoing, (and) obvious violations of religious freedom”.
“ I’m designating Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as Countries of Particular Concern for having engaged in or permitted methodical, ongoing and obvious violations of religious freedom,” Secretary Blinken said in a statement issued by his office.
“ I’m also placing Algeria, Comoros, Cuba, and Nicaragua on a Special Watch List for governments that have engaged in or permitted severe violations of religious freedom,” he added.
Secretary Blinken also designated al-Shabab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISIS, ISIS-Greater Sahara, ISIS-West Africa, Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin, and the Taliban as Realities of Particular Concern.
Each time the Secretary of State identifies governments and non-state actors, who, he believes, merit designation under the US International Religious Freedom Act.
“ We’ll continue to press all governments to remedy failings in their laws and practices and to promote responsibility for those responsible for abuses,” Mr. Blinken said.
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