This week (April 18), in a press release United States Commission on International Religious Freedom expressed concern that the US State Department has not yet taken specific policy actions against three countries-- Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Eritrea-- for their systematic violations of religious freedom. They had previously been designated as "countries of particular concern". The deadline under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 for taking action passed a month ago. In February, the Commission had recommended specific steps that should be taken.
In a strong statement, the Commission chair said: “These persistent delays in the process serve only to signal that the United States does not take seriously IRFA’s stated—and mandated—commitments to promote religious freedom and other human rights throughout the world.”
