By Doug Bandow
 

http://search.japantimes.co.jp/cgi-bin/eo20110105db.html

Religious liberty is the proverbial canary in the mine. If a state won't respect this most basic freedom of conscience, it isn't likely to respect people's lives and dignity in any context.

There is more than enough bad news to fill the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom's latest annual report. Worst were conditions in 13 "countries of particular concern."