Russia is one of the worst countries when it comes to religious freedom, according to the U.S. State Department.
The State Department announced Wednesday it would add Russia to its list of countries that merit the designation of “Countries of Particular Concern” for having engaged in or tolerated “systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom.”
“In far too many places around the world, we continue to see governments harass, arrest, threaten, jail, and kill individuals simply for seeking to live their lives in accordance with their beliefs,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken in a press statement. “This Administration is committed to supporting every individual’s right to freedom of religion or belief, including by confronting and combating violators and abusers of this human right.”
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Blinken renewed the list from last year, saying Myanmar, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan will remain CPCs while also removing Nigeria from the list. The Cabinet secretary also said Algeria, Comoros, Cuba, and Nicaragua are on the U.S. Special Watch List, a lesser designation than the CPC label.
The secretary of state added that militant groups al Shabab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al Sham, the Houthis, the Islamic State (or ISIS), ISIS-Greater Sahara, ISIS-West Africa, Jamaat Nasr al Islam wal Muslimin, and the Taliban should be considered “Entities of Particular Concern,” a designation mirroring the CPC label but for groups.
Russia‘s addition as a CPC is most likely due to Russian officials imprisoning Jehovah’s Witnesses for extended sentences and labeling them “extremists.”
These designations follow recommendations from the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom earlier this month. The Nov. 9 report encouraged Blinken and the State Department to add India, Russia, Syria, and Vietnam as CPCs. The commission also recommended that Afghanistan, Algeria, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Indonesia, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Turkey, and Uzbekistan be added to the Special Watch List.
The USCIRF expressed in a press release that while it approved most of Blinken’s designations, it is “disappointed” that the State Department removed Nigeria from its listing as a CPC.
“While the State Department took steps forward on some designations, USCIRF is especially displeased with the removal of Nigeria from its CPC designation, where it was rightfully placed last year, as well as the omission of India, Syria, and Vietnam,” said USCIRF Chairwoman Nadine Maenza. “We urge the State Department to reconsider its designations based on facts presented in its own reporting.”
Nigeria has been dealing with tensions between Christians and Muslims for several years, including violent assaults against Christian communities by groups such as Boko Haram and ISIS-West Africa.
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Countries designated CPCs have engaged in prolonged detention without cause or violence against local communities. In these cases, Congress may pursue noneconomic policy changes or pressure to encourage the country to cease such conduct. If need be, economic measures such as sanctions may also be imposed.
Countries on the Special Watch List have committed severe violations of religious freedom. However, they do not meet the strict criteria that underlie the CPC designation.
