China, Pakistan Listed As ‘Countries Of Particular Concern’ For Violation Of Religious Freedom

The US has designated China, North Korea, and Pakistan as "Countries of Particular Concern" for engaging in and tolerating "particularly severe violations of religious freedom." Announcing the Religious Freedom Designations, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that advancing the freedom of religion or belief has been a core objective of US foreign policy ever since Congress passed and enacted the International Religious Freedom Act in 1998.

As part of that "enduring commitment", Blinken said last week that he has designated Burma, China, Cuba, North Korea, 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 Islamabad, Pakistan Foreign Office on Monday rejected what it called the "biased" assessment by the US to designate it a 'country of particular concern'.