The U.S. State Department has named seven countries, including Afghanistan, Myanmar, and China, as the world’s worst violators of religious freedom.

In its 2001 report on international religious freedom released October 26, the department categorizes countries according to the level of religious freedom present in their country. “This annual report is a valuable resource and is generally reliable,” says James Standish, director of legislative affairs for the Seventh-day Adventist Church.

He notes, however, that some international human rights organizations have questioned why countries such as Turkmenistan and Saudi Arabia have not been included in the category of “countries of particular concern,” despite a recommendation by the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom, a federal government commission, that they be listed among the worst religious freedom offenders.

Also listed as the most oppressive countries are Cuba, Laos, North Korea, and Vietnam. The report lists Turkmenistan among the second tier offenders, and notes that in 1999 the government razed an Adventist church in the capital city and in October 2000, detained an Adventist pastor after raiding a prayer service in a private apartment.

The State Department report also tracks positive developments in places such as Bosnia, where new churches and mosques are opening and leaders of various faiths have set up an Inter-religious Affairs Council.