Washington: With restrictions imposed on Beijing officials over the autonomy of Hong Kong, the US has also encircled China and its friend Pakistan in matters of religious freedom. The United States has expressed serious concern over the encroachment of religious freedom into Pakistan and China. However, there are 8 other countries in this list, apart from China and Pakistan, where the violation of religious freedom has been questioned.
The US State Department has placed these countries on a special watch list in violation of religious freedom. China and Pakistan figure prominently in the list of countries that have failed to stop the oppression and discrimination that has taken place over particular religious groups in their country. The special thing is that India is constantly questioning the excesses and atrocities on Hindus in Pakistan. In this sense, this is a major diplomatic victory for India.
In an official statement, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, Nigeria, the DPRK, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have been designated as CPC (Countries of Particular Concern) under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, as amended, for engaging in or tolerating systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom. The Secretary of State further informed that countries – Comoros, Cuba, Nicaragua and Russia have been placed on a Special Watch List for governments that have engaged in or tolerated “severe violations of religious freedom”.
