Washington designates China, Iran and Russia as countries of particular concern under Religious Freedom Act, but ignores India where US agency USCIRF says treatment of religious minorities is 'significantly' worsening
Top US diplomat Blinken designates many countries including Russia as"countries of particular concern" who he says engaged in severe violations of religious freedom, but takes no action against India, seen by Washington as a key emerging ally.The United States has designated China, Iran and Russia, among others, as countries of particular concern under the Religious Freedom Act over severe violations, but took no action against India.
He added that Washington would welcome meeting with all governments to outline concrete steps for removal from the lists.Several groups, including the Kremlin-aligned Wagner Group, a private paramilitary organisation active in Syria, Africa and Ukraine, were also designated as entities of particular concern.
Blinken kept on the blacklist all Countries of Particular Concern from 2021 — Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan. Cuba and Nicaragua were both newly designated as "Countries of Particular Concern" under the annual determinations, meaning that the two leftist Latin American states — already under US sanctions —could face further measures.As expected, Blinken took no action against India, seen by the United States as a key emerging ally against China.
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