| Countries of Particular Concern |
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| Sunday, 28 June 2009 09:36 |
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The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 requires an annual review of the status of religious freedom worldwide and the designation of countries that have “engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom” during the reporting period as “Countries of Particular Concern” (CPCs). Below are the countries identified by the 2008
Examples from the 2008 International Religious Freedom Report: Burma Non-Buddhists are still discriminated against in the upper levels of employment in the public sector. Muslims often have to obtain permission in advance when they want to leave their hometowns. It is difficult to build churches and mosques, and sometimes even maintenance is prohibited. Buddhist monks who opposed the government were arrested.
Eritrea The Constitution, which provides for religious freedom, has not been implemented by the government. There are only four approved official religious groups. Members of minority religious groups were harassed, arrested and detained and held without due process No provision for conscientious objection to military service, causes problems for Jehovah’s Witnesses. China The report indicated that repression of religious freedom increased in Tibetan areas and against Muslims in the Xinjiang Uighur Autonomous Region (XUAR). Legality of religious activities is decided by government officials, based on whether or not such activities are considered “normal”. Police sometimes detained worshippers attending house services for hours or days.
Everyone has the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion; this right includes freedom to change his religion or belief, and freedom, either alone or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in teaching, practice, worship and observance.
Article 18, Universal Declaration of Human Rights
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