December 18, 2003

State Department

The State Department's annual report on religious freedom was issued Thursday and it includes strong criticism of a number of Asian and Middle Eastern countries, including regional U.S. allies such as Saudi Arabia and Pakistan. The report is mandated by Congress and could lead to U.S. sanctions against serious violators.

The massive report says there are problems in the respect for the freedom of worship in virtually every part of the world, but says they are most acute in countries under authoritarian rule, among them North Korea, Burma, China, Vietnam, Laos and Cuba.

China was cited for trying to restrict religious practice to government-sanctioned organizations. The report said unregistered religious groups experienced varying degrees of official harassment,[...] such as the Falun Gong spiritual movement.

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Under the act of Congress which mandates the annual report, states identified as "Countries of Particular Concern" could face U.S. sanctions.

The most recent list of countries of concern, issued last March, includes China, Iran, Iraq, Burma, North Korea and Sudan. A new listing is expected soon, based on the findings of Thursday's report.

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