WASHINGTON – The US Secretary of State has placed Pakistan on a SpecialWatch List for severe violations of religious freedom, the State Departmentsaid.

In a press statement issued today (Thursday), the Department of Stateannounced that the Secretary of State re-designated Burma, China, Eritrea,Iran, North Korea, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, andUzbekistan as Countries of Particular Concern on December 22, 2017.

The Secretary also placed Pakistan on a Special Watch List for severeviolations of religious freedom.

“In far too many places around the globe, people continue to be persecuted,unjustly prosecuted, or imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom ofreligion or belief. Today, a number of governments infringe uponindividuals’ ability to adopt, change, or renounce their religion orbelief, worship in accordance with their religion or beliefs, or be freefrom coercion to practice a particular religion or belief,” IT SAID.

In accordance with the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, the USSecretary of State annually designates governments that have engaged in ortolerated systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religiousfreedom as “Countries of Particular Concern”.

The protection of religious freedom is vital to peace, stability, andprosperity. These designations are aimed at improving the respect forreligious freedom in these countries.

We recognize that several designated countries are working to improve theirrespect for religious freedom; we welcome these initiatives and lookforward to continued dialogue. The United States remains committed toworking with governments, civil society organizations, and religiousleaders to advance religious freedom around the world.