US sanctions 17 countries, Boko Haram, 11 other Islamic groups for religious intolerance

 

Admin I Friday, Jan. 04, 2024

 

WASHINGTON – The United States of America has designated a total of 17 countries, and seven other Islamic groups for acts of religious intolerance in their various countries.

Out of the 17 countries, 12 were specifically designated, while five others were placed on special watch lists.

The twelve countries designated are Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, the DPRK, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

The five others on special watch list are Algeria, Azerbaijan, the Central African Republic, Comoros, and Vietnam.

Also designated are Islamic groups. They are al-Shabab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISIS-Sahel, ISIS-West Africa, al-Qa’ida affiliate Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin, and the Taliban.

In a statement, Secretary of State, Antony Blinken said they were designated in line with the International Religious Freedom Act signed into law 1998.

“As part of that enduring commitment, I have designated Burma, the People’s Republic of China, Cuba, the DPRK, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as Countries of Particular Concern for having engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom.

“ In addition, I have designated Algeria, Azerbaijan, the Central African Republic, Comoros, and Vietnam as Special Watch List countries for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom.

“Finally, I have designated al-Shabab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISIS-Sahel, ISIS-West Africa, al-Qa’ida affiliate Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal-Muslimin, and the Taliban as Entities of Particular Concern”, he said.

According to him, the significant violations of religious freedom also occur in countries that are not designated, stressing that governments must end abuses such as attacks on members of religious minority communities and their places of worship, communal violence and lengthy imprisonment for peaceful expression, transnational repression, and calls to violence against religious communities, among other violations that occur in too many places around the world.

“The challenges to religious freedom across the globe are structural, systemic, and deeply entrenched”, he explained.

As he puts it, “ with thoughtful, sustained commitment from those who are unwilling to accept hatred, intolerance, and persecution as the status quo we will one day see a world where all people live with dignity and equality”.