The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom has identified 12 countries as the world’s worst violators of religious liberty. A report released September 30 named China, India, Iran, Iraq, Laos, Myanmar (formerly Burma), North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Sudan, Turkmenistan, and Vietnam.

The Commission, an independent federal agency, is charged under U.S. law with designating countries who are engaged in, or who tolerate, particularly severe violations of religious freedom. Once identified as a “country of particular concern” (CPC) the law requires the president to take specific actions to oppose these violations.

According to the press release issued by the Commission, “the Commission found that in China, particularly severe violations have actually increased in the past year. The Chinese government has intensified its violent campaign of repression against Evangelical Christians, Roman Catholics, Uighur Muslims, Tibetan Buddhists, and groups—such as the Falun Gong—that have been labeled as ‘evil cults.’”

Also singled out for specific mention are India, with severe violence against religious minorities; Pakistan, for failing adequately to protect religious minorities from sectarian violence; Vietnam for its repressive policies toward all religious believers; and Saudi Arabia.

“These findings by the Commission demonstrate the vital importance of maximizing support for religious freedom,” says James Standish, U.S. government liaison for the Seventh-day Adventist Church. “We need to keep such human rights violations at the forefront, and to bring up these issues with government officials from these countries. We also need to encourage our elected representatives to place pressure—both economic and diplomatic—on these governments to cease such violations.”