Secretary of State Anthony J. Blinken. (Photo courtesy of Felipe Stanley/Agencia Press South/Getty Images)
The U.S. State Department said the U.S. on Monday included Russia on the national blacklist of “serious violations of religious freedom.”
U.S. Secretary of State Anthony Brinken said in a statement that he listed Russia, China and eight other countries as countries that “participate in or tolerate’systematic, persistent and serious violations of religious freedom’.”
Nigeria was on the list last year, and Brinken will visit the list this week, but it has been deleted.
The other countries still on the US list of “violations of religious freedom” are Myanmar, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan.
Algeria, Comoros, Cuba and Nicaragua are on the watch list.
“The United States will not give up its commitment to promote freedom of religion or belief for all people and every country,” Brinken said.
“In too many places in the world, we continue to see governments harassing, arresting, threatening, imprisoning and killing individuals just to live according to their beliefs.”
Brinken began a three-nation visit to Africa on Wednesday, warning the continent of the growing threat to democracy.
His visit started in Kenya and will also include Senegal because he emphasized the new US commitment to Africa.
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