The State Department annually lists nations the place it sees specific concern on spiritual freedom, with the prospect of sanctions with out enchancment.

The unbiased fee, whose members are appointed by the president and congressional get together leaders, supported the entire State Department’s newest designations which included China, Iran, Myanmar, Pakistan, Russia and Saudi Arabia.

It nonetheless beneficial that the State Department add a number of nations together with India, Nigeria and Vietnam.

The annual report pointed in India to violence and destruction of property concentrating on Muslims and Christians and drew hyperlinks to feedback and social media posts by members of Modi’s Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).

“The continued enforcement of discriminatory laws facilitated a culture of impunity for widespread campaigns of threats and violence by mobs and vigilante groups,” it mentioned.

It was the fourth straight 12 months that the panel has made the advice on India, angering New Delhi which has referred to as the fee biased.

The State Department briefly blacklisted Nigeria on the finish of Donald Trump’s presidency following calls from evangelical Christians, however President Joe Biden’s administration eliminated it, rejecting ideas of violence in Africa’s most populous nation being religious-based or abetted by the federal government.

The fee additionally beneficial that the State Department add plenty of US companions to a watch checklist of nations that risked being blacklisted with out enhancements together with Egypt, Indonesia and Turkey.

sct/des