U.S. makes moves to support religious freedom globally

Two federal government actions shortly before Christmas are vital to protecting international religious liberty, according to Travis Wussow, vice president for public policy with the Ethics & Religious Liberty Commission (ERLC) of the Southern Baptist Convention.

Secretary of State Mike Pompeo announced Dec. 20 the redesignation of Burma (Myanmar), China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan as “countries of particular concern” (CPCs), a category reserved under federal law for governments that have committed or tolerated “systematic, ongoing and egregious violations of religious freedom.”

USCIRF reauthorized

On the same day as Pompeo’s announcement, a bill was signed reauthorizing the U.S. Commission on International Freedom (USCIRF), a bipartisan panel that researches and makes recommendations on religious liberty conditions overseas. 

The measure — part of a spending bill approved by Congress — reauthorizes the commission through Sept. 30, 2022.

“The State Department’s CPC announcement and Congress’ bipartisan reauthorization of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom are critical first steps for the defense of this fundamental human right,” said Wussow.

Sudan moves off list

The CPC list did not include Sudan, marking the first time the east African country has been absent since the State Department began making the designations in 1999. 

However, Sudan was placed on a “special watch list” (SWL) for countries that have engaged in or permitted “severe violations” of religious freedom. 

Redesignated to the SWL list were Comoros, a group of islands off the east coast of Africa; Russia; and Uzbekistan. New additions to the list were Cuba, Nicaragua and Nigeria.

“We believe that everyone, everywhere, at all times, should have the right to live according to the dictates of their conscience,” Pompeo said in a written statement. “We will continue to challenge state and non-state entities that seek to infringe upon those fundamental rights and to ensure they are held to account for their actions.” (BP)