Objective coverage of church-state and religious liberty developments, with extensive links to primary sources.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
USCIRF Issues New Report on Religious Freedom In Iraq
The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom today issued a report on religious freedom concerns in Iraq, and (over the dissent of four commissioners) recommended that Iraq be designated as a "country of particular concern" under the International Religious Freedom Act. USCIRF's press release summarizes the full report which focuses on both intra-Muslim violence and abuses against non-Muslim minority groups (particularly Christians, Mandaeans, and Yazidis). Commission Chair Felice D. Gaer said: "The lack of effective government action to protect these communities from abuses has established Iraq among the most dangerous places on earth for religious minorities." The Commission unanimously recommended a series of steps in eight different areas that need to be taken in order to improve the religious freedom situation in the country. (See prior related posting.)