Pakistan Among World's Worst Violators of Religious Freedoms
Posted on: 2012-03-27 02:59:08
By Joseph DeCaro, Worthy News Correspondent
WASHINGTON D.C. (Worthy News)-- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended that the Secretary of State name Pakistan as a Country of Particular Concern in its 2012 Annual Report.
Other nations recommended were: Burma, China, Egypt, Eritrea, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
The USCIRF found that Pakistan continued to tolerate systematic and ongoing violations of religious freedom. Pakistan's notorious blasphemy laws and other religiously repressive legislation fostered an atmosphere of violent vigilantism where sectarian violence was chronic.
The annual report highlighted the mistreatment of Ahmadis, Hindus and Christians in Pakistan, Buddhists in Vietnam and China and Baha'is in Iran and Egypt.
USCIRF also added the following to its 2012 Watch List: Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, India, Indonesia, Laos, Russia, Somalia and Venezuela.
Although not reaching the levels required by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act for CPC designation, "Watch List" countries are closely monitored.
WASHINGTON D.C. (Worthy News)-- The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom recommended that the Secretary of State name Pakistan as a Country of Particular Concern in its 2012 Annual Report.
Other nations recommended were: Burma, China, Egypt, Eritrea, Iraq, Iran, Nigeria, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Tajikistan, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Vietnam.
The USCIRF found that Pakistan continued to tolerate systematic and ongoing violations of religious freedom. Pakistan's notorious blasphemy laws and other religiously repressive legislation fostered an atmosphere of violent vigilantism where sectarian violence was chronic.
The annual report highlighted the mistreatment of Ahmadis, Hindus and Christians in Pakistan, Buddhists in Vietnam and China and Baha'is in Iran and Egypt.
USCIRF also added the following to its 2012 Watch List: Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, India, Indonesia, Laos, Russia, Somalia and Venezuela.
Although not reaching the levels required by the 1998 International Religious Freedom Act for CPC designation, "Watch List" countries are closely monitored.
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