WASHINGTON DC: The US State Department has placed Pakistan on a special watch list for ‘severe violations of religious freedom’, it said on Thursday, days after the White House said Islamabad would have to do more to combat terrorism and receive US aid.
“In far too many places around the globe, people continue to be persecuted, unjustly prosecuted, or imprisoned for exercising their right to freedom of religion or belief,” a statement issued by the State Department read. “Today, a number of governments infringe upon individuals’ ability to adapt, change, or renounce their religion or belief, worship in accordance with their religion or beliefs, or be free from coercion to practice a particular religion or belief.”
The State Department also said it had re-designated 10 other nations as ‘countries of particular concern’ under the International Religious Freedom Act for having engaged in or tolerated egregious violations of religious freedom.
The re-designated countries were China, Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Sudan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan. They were re-designated on December 22. “The protection of religious freedom is vital to peace, stability, and prosperity,” the department said in the statement. “These designations are aimed at improving the respect for religious freedom in these countries.”
US President Donald Trump has criticised Pakistan for not doing more to combat terrorism, and his administration has informed members of Congress that it will announce plans to end ‘security assistance’ payments to the country. Pakistan has said it is already doing a lot to fight militants, and summoned the US ambassador to explain a tweet by Trump that said the United States had been foolish in dispensing aid to Islamabad.
Published in Daily Times, January 5th 2018.
