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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 29, 2009
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Commission on International Religious
Freedom (USCIRF) today announced its 2010 recommendations to Congress,
the White House, and the State Department that 13 nations–Burma, China,
North Korea, Eritrea, Iran, Iraq, Nigeria, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia,
Sudan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan, and Vietnam–be named “countries of
particular concern,” or CPCs.
“Over the past few months USCIRF has visited a number of human rights
‘hot spots’ where freedom of religion is obstructed and related human
rights are trampled,” said Leonard Leo, USCIRF chair. “This year's
report offers new and important policy solutions to improve conditions
where foreign policy, national security, and international standards
for the protection of freedom of religion can and should intersect. The
report’s conclusion is clear–the Administration must do more!”
USCIRF’s 2010 Annual Report documents serious abuses of freedom of
thought, conscience, religion, and belief around the world. The report
provides policy prescriptions for each nation on the CPC list.
The 1998 International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) requires that the
United States designate as CPCs those countries whose governments have
engaged in or tolerated systematic and egregious violations of the
universal right to freedom of religion or belief.
Further, USCIRF announced that the following countries are on the 2010
USCIRF Watch List: Afghanistan, Belarus, Cuba, Egypt, India, Indonesia,
Laos, Russia, Somalia, Tajikistan, Turkey, and Venezuela.
While not rising to the statutory level set forth in IRFA requiring
designation as a “country of particular concern,” watch list countries
require close monitoring due to the nature and extent of violations of
religious freedom engaged in or tolerated by the governments.
USCIRF is an independent, bipartisan U.S. federal government
commission. USCIRF Commissioners are appointed by the President and the
leadership of both political parties in the Senate and the House of
Representatives. USCIRF’s principal responsibilities are to review the
facts and circumstances of violations of religious freedom
internationally and to make policy recommendations to the President,
the Secretary of State and Congress.
To interview a USCIRF Commissioner contact Tom Carter, Communications Director at 202-538-2044 or
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