U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken confirmed that the United States has classified China, Iran, and Russia among the "countries of concern" under the Religious Freedom Act. Blinken stated in a statement that the list also includes North Korea and Myanmar, all of which have been involved in serious violations of religious freedoms or tolerate such violations. Algeria, the Central African Republic, Comoros, and Vietnam have been placed on a watch list.
Several groups, including Russia-aligned Wagner Group, a private paramilitary organization active in Syria, Africa, and Ukraine, have been blacklisted for religious freedoms. Blinken noted that the Wagner Group was included on the list due to its involvement in violations in the Central African Republic, which has witnessed fighting for nearly a decade between Christians and Muslims.
Blinken added, "Some governments and non-state actors are harassing, threatening, imprisoning, and even killing individuals for their beliefs," stressing that "the United States will not remain idle in the face of these violations." He indicated that Washington is willing to meet with all governments to identify concrete steps to remove them from the list.
