On June 2, the State Department issued its annual Report to Congress on International Religious Freedom. Issued in accordance with the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, the Report describes the status of religious freedom in nearly 200 foreign countries. The 2000-page Report is available on the State Department's website only in a format that allows the reader to choose one country at a time and read the report on that nation. Appendices to the Report, also available on the website, give additional information on the legal framework that attempts to assure religious freedom internationally. Secretary of State Blinken and Ambassador At Large for International Religious Freedom Rashad Hussain delivered remarks (full text) on the release of the Report, highlighting issues in a number of nations. Ambassador Hussain said in part:
I’d like to lay out three key themes in the report.
First, too many governments use discriminatory laws and policies and abuse their own people. We have seen two genocides of religious minority communities in recent years – in China and in Burma.
Second, rising societal intolerance and hatred are fueling violence and conflict around the world. Governments must not sit silent or stand idly by in the face of such oppression.
Third, powerful collaboration among civil society, governments, and multilateral partners has led to some progress and provides hope in addressing these complex challenges.
