Several nations that regularly violate religious freedoms are "missing in action" from a new U.S. State Department list, an omission that raises concern among Seventh-day Adventist Church religious liberty advocates.
Several nations that regularly violate religious freedoms are “missing in action” from a new U.S. State Department list, an omission that raises concern among Seventh-day Adventist Church religious liberty advocates.
“While we appreciate the work of the U.S. State Department in advancing religious freedom, we are naturally disappointed that some of the world’s most egregious violators of liberty of conscience were not identified in the State Department’s list this year,” says James Standish, director of legislative affairs for the Seventh-day Adventist Church.
Some countries with little religious freedom not listed include India, Laos, Pakistan, North Korea, Cambodia, Vietnam, China, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, Turkmenistan and Sudan. Reports from the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom provided gruesome accounts and evidence of harassment, torture, imprisonments and killings in many of these countries. Other non-governmental organizations and human rights agencies have also released similar reports.
“We meet frequently with State Department representatives, and will continue to press for all nations that are involved in systematic, serious violations of religious freedom to be held accountable for their violations of human rights,” Standish says.
“We find it regrettable that countries such as Saudi Arabia and Turkmenistan—which have almost no religious freedom at all—are not listed as Countries of Particular Concern,” comments Jonathan Gallagher, U.N. liaison director for the Adventist Church, who is attending the U.N. Commission on Human Rights currently underway in Geneva.
According to Gallagher, the church is making several statements to the full assembly, as well as conducting conversations with representatives of countries participating in the deliberations of the Commission. “This work is an essential part of our responsibilities as a Christian organization, and the ongoing support of members is vital,” Gallagher says. “We will do all we can to ensure religious freedom for all people everywhere.”