\nSource: ShareAmerica<\/p>\n
\nReligious freedom is a core American value and a universal human right. It\u2019s also a vital foreign policy priority, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said June 2.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen the fundamental right of each person to practice their faith or to choose not to observe a faith is respected, people can make their fullest contributions to their community\u2019s successes; entire societies are better off,\u201d Blinken said.<\/p>\n
But when governments deny this right, \u201cit ignites tension, it sows division, it often leads to instability and conflict,\u201d he added.<\/p>\n
Blinken made his comments as he released the State Department\u2019s 2021 International Religious Freedom Report. The annual report tracks religious freedom abuses and positive governmental or societal actions. The report also informs critical U.S. foreign policy decisions.<\/p>\n
\u201cRELIGIOUS FREEDOM IS THE FIRST FREEDOM ENSHRINED IN OUR CONSTITUTION\u2019S BILL OF RIGHTS.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n ~ SECRETARY OF STATE ANTONY BLINKEN<\/strong><\/p>\n Notable progress<\/strong><\/p>\n Several countries recorded significant steps to improve religious freedom in 2021. Examples include:<\/p>\n Morocco restored Jewish heritage sites such as synagogues and will include Jewish history in the school curriculum.<\/p>\n Iraq welcomed Pope Francis for the first papal visit to the nation, and the pope led Christian and interfaith services in several cities.<\/p>\n Timor-Leste\u2018s President Jos\u00e9 Ramos-Horta pledged to defend the rights of all citizens regardless of their religious background.<\/p>\n \u201cUltimately, this report is about spreading that kind of progress to more parts of the world,\u201d Blinken said.<\/p>\n Abuses still widespread<\/strong><\/p>\n Some governments continue to use blasphemy and apostasy laws to discriminate against religious minorities. Others curtail expressions of religious belief, like restrictions on religious attire.<\/p>\n In his remarks, Blinken highlighted examples of threats to religious freedom, including:<\/p>\n Burma\u2019s military committed genocide and crimes against humanity against the predominantly Muslim Rohingya. It also destroyed mosques, desecrated Korans and engaged in other abuses.<\/p>\n Eritrea only permits four religions to practice freely.<\/p>\n China continues to commit crimes against humanity and genocide of predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups.<\/p>\n \u201cAll societies, including our own and across Europe, must do more to combat rising forms of hate, including anti-Semitism and anti-Muslim sentiment,\u201d Blinken said.<\/p>\n Rashad Hussain, the U.S. ambassador-at-large for international religious freedom, said no community is immune from abuses.<\/p>\n \u201cGovernments must speak out and protect the vulnerable and marginalized,\u201d he said. \u201cReligion can be such a powerful force for good, and it should never be used to harm people.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" \u201cGovernments must speak out and protect the vulnerable and marginalized,\u201d he said. \u201cReligion can be such a powerful force for good, and it should never be used to harm people.\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":4374,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[137,142],"tags":[409,213,407,151,410,411,408,145],"series":[1027],"coauthors":[238],"class_list":["post-4373","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-civil-rights-en","category-most-important-topics-en","tag-burma","tag-china","tag-freedom-of-religions","tag-iraq-en","tag-morrocco","tag-secretary-blinken","tag-ugur","tag-usa-en","series-whia-synergy"],"episode_featured_image":"https:\/\/whia.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/free.jpg","episode_player_image":"https:\/\/whia.us\/wp-content\/uploads\/free.jpg","download_link":"","player_link":"","audio_player":false,"episode_data":{"playerMode":"dark","subscribeUrls":{"apple_podcasts":{"key":"apple_podcasts","url":"","label":"Apple Podcasts","class":"apple_podcasts","icon":"apple-podcasts.png"},"stitcher":{"key":"stitcher","url":"","label":"Stitcher","class":"stitcher","icon":"stitcher.png"},"google_podcasts":{"key":"google_podcasts","url":"","label":"Google Podcasts","class":"google_podcasts","icon":"google-podcasts.png"},"spotify":{"key":"spotify","url":"","label":"Spotify","class":"spotify","icon":"spotify.png"}},"rssFeedUrl":"https:\/\/whia.us\/en\/feed\/podcast\/whia-synergy","embedCode":"Religious freedom: A U.S. founding principle<\/a><\/blockquote>