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Countries Charged with Violations of Religious Freedom

By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent

(Worthy News)-- Last week, the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom released its annual report that named 17 countries as Tier 1 violators of religious freedom for "engaging in, or tolerating systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom."

According to International Christian Concern, the USCIRF report recommended that these countries be added to the State Department's "Country of Particular Concern" list, which allows Tier 1 violators to be subjected to U.S. sanctions.

William Stark, ICC Regional Manager, commended USCIRF for documenting the continued deterioration of religious freedom in South Asia. For example, both Pakistan and India have seen significant increases in religious freedom violations, especially against Christian minorities.

According Troy Augustine, ICC Regional Manager for Africa, the increasing violence in Nigeria by Boko Haram and Muslim Fulani herdsmen renders these regions as some of the most dangerous places on earth to be a Christian.

ICC Regional Manager Christopher Warner said the USCIRF report confirmed China's crackdown on Christian communities through its destruction of churches and the imprisonment of their pastors by Communist government officials.

Todd Daniels, ICC Regional Manager for the Middle East, said the USCIRF report highlighted the violation of human rights solely on the basis of religious belief or identity.

For example, although the newly installed government in Egypt has advocated for greater religious freedom, assaults on Coptic churches have continued unabted.