Saudi Arabia, Vietnam, Eritrea cited for religious freedom abuses

Published: 2004-09-17

WASHINGTON (CNS) -- Saudi Arabia, Vietnam and Eritrea were among the countries singled out for the first time by a U.S. State Department report for severe abuses of religious freedom. Myanmar, China, Iran, North Korea and Sudan again were designated as "countries of particular concern" in the State Department's sixth International Religious Freedom Report, issued Sept. 15. Under the International Religious Freedom Act, a "country of particular concern" designation can lead potentially to sanctions or other penalties. "Millions of people around the world live under totalitarian regimes where religious belief and practice are tightly controlled," the report said. It said states use varying methods of restricting religious freedom, from enforcing discriminatory laws and policies or by forcing religious adherents to join "state-approved" churches. The report said that Saudi Arabia denies religious freedom "to all but those who adhere to the state-sanctioned version of Sunni Islam."

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