In Annual Religious Freedom Report, U.S. Criticizes ‘Blasphemy’ Laws

ICC Note:

The State Department’s Annual Report on International Religious Freedom denounces UN Defamation of Religions resolution endorsed by Islamic countries. The report condemns religious intolerance in Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, and Russia. The report also recognizes the increasing number of Christians in China, where 50 – 90 million Chinese worship in unregistered churches.

By: Jill Dougherty

10/27/2009 Islam (CNN) — In what one official describes as a “mixed” report, the State Department’s Annual Report on International Religious Freedom praises growing interfaith initiatives in some countries but criticizes “blasphemy” laws supported by some Islamic nations. Such laws, it says, curtail freedom of expression.

The annual report, addressing the state of religious freedom in 198 countries and territories, cites “serious problems” of religious tolerance in Afghanistan.

It singles out a controversial law signed by President Hamid Karzai limiting the rights of women from the Shia minority. It also cites harassment and occasional violence against religious minorities and Muslims perceived as not respecting Islamic strictures. Non-Muslim minority groups — including Christians, Hindus, and Sikhs, it says — continued to face incidents of discrimination and persecution.

Briefing the media on the report, Michael Posner — assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor — said China has a “mixed picture” on religious freedom, including encouraging indications of a rapidly growing Christian community, 50 million to 90 million members of which, he said, worship in unregistered churches.

The United States has “very serious concerns” over the status of religious freedom in Saudi Arabia as well, Posner said. The report says freedom of religion “is neither recognized nor protected under Saudi law and it is severely restricted in practice.”

In Russia authorities imposed restrictions on certain religious minorities and did not always respect separation of church and state and the equality of all religions before the law, the report says: “Vague legislation to counter ‘extremism’ has had a detrimental effect on religious freedom.”

The State Department will issue a separate report on “countries of concern.” Officials say they plan to release by January.

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