Labeled as a "country of particular concern" (CPA) by the U.S. Department of State were Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Vietnam. The language is weak, and dispite the denial of the nations mentioned, the abuse of religious freedom is without a doubt.
"These governments implement policies designed to demand that adherents recant their faith, cause religious group members to flee the country, and intimidate and harass certain religious groups," according to the report.
The report also defines religious abuse as discriminating against certain religions by describing them as dangerous cults or sects. Maybe the United States needs to look to itself in this regard. There has been a vast 'organized' anti-cult movement in this nation that has done just that for decades, lead predominantly by Christians. Not government policy, but the government has been complicite. From Bob Dole, then member of the Senate Finance Committee, who wrote the IRS Commissioner, Donald Alexander, leading to the railroading and imprisonment of Reverend Moon of the Unification Church. To the crass disregard for the rights of the Branch Davidians leading to scores of men women and children being killed. And the disdain shown to the Hari Krishna and others resulting in open discrimination against all such 'dangerous cults and sects' whom can find little to no relief from our judicial system, that is our jury system.
The United States stands is the beacon of freedom to the rest of the world and truly has achieved standards of freedom beyond any other nation. However look to the Religious Freedom Report itself if you do not believe the U.S. could possibly by complicite in bigotry. Though Saudi Arabia allows only one religion to be practiced, this years report has omitted the phrase "freedom of religion does not exist" and changed it to "there is no legal recognition of religious freedom, and it is severely restricted in practice."
http://washingtontimes.com/op-ed/20060917-093202-1640r.htm
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