State Department published a report on the state of religious freedom in nearly 200 countries and territories around the world in 2022.
Speaking on Monday, Secretary of State Anthony Blinken noted the progress made in expanding religious freedom in Belgium, Brazil, Canada, the EU and the Central African Republic, as well as the achievements of society civil society and other governments around the world to free many people who have been detained or imprisoned for exercising human rights, for practicing their religion or beliefs.
The report also states that governments around the world continue to persecute religious minorities using various methods, including torture, beatings, illegal surveillance and so-called re-education camps. They also continue to practice other forms of discrimination based on faith or lack of faith, such as excluding religious minorities from certain professions or forcing them to work during religious holidays.
“Governments use anti-conversion, blasphemy, apostasy laws that prohibit the act of abandoning one’s faith to justify the persecution of those who do not follow their particular interpretation of theology, often using these laws against humanists, atheists and LGBTQ+ people,” Blinken said. . “All over the world, citizens and civil society organizations have risen up against these practices, which are often at great risk. NGOs such as Uyghur Defense Campaign and Uyghur Human Rights Project document genocide and crimes against humanity against predominantly Muslim Uyghurs in Xinjiang, China.
The Secretary of State noted the peaceful protests in Iran demanding respect for human rights, including freedom of religion, as well as the efforts of thousands of teachers of Muslim, Buddhist, Christian and other faiths who, in In the context of the military regime’s continued repression in Burma against religious minorities, continue to teach the importance of human rights, including freedom of religion.
“The United States will continue to support these courageous defenders of religious liberty,” Blinken said. “We will continue to defend religious freedom in countries where these rights are violated, both publicly and in direct interaction with government officials. We will continue to work to protect and promote religious freedom at home, including through the interdepartmental group President Biden launched in December to address religious bias and discrimination. »
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