Not Ukraine: State Department names countries violating religious freedom
Zelensky and Blinken are sure that there is no oppression of religious freedom in Ukraine. Photo: Voice of America
The head of the State Department Tony Blinken named the countries where, in the opinion of the United States, religious freedom is infringed, reports Golos Ameriki ("Voice of America").
Blinken included Russia, China, Azerbaijan, Cuba, North Korea, Eritrea, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan on a list of countries "of particular concern for engaging in or tolerating particularly serious violations of religious freedom."
"Promoting freedom of religion and belief has been a major goal of U.S. foreign policy since Congress passed and enacted the International Religious Freedom Act in 1998," Tony Blinken assured.
The Secretary of State did not mention Ukraine. At the same time, he noted that violations of religious freedom occur in countries not included in the lists. He believes that the oppression of religious freedom is structural and systemic around the world.
"But with the thoughtful and consistent commitment of those who are unwilling to accept hatred, intolerance and persecution as the status quo, one day we will see a world where all people live with dignity and equality," the State Department head assured.
Earlier, the UOJ wrote that, according to an American journalist, he witnessed dire persecution of the UOC with his own eyes.
Read also
Metropolitan Sergiy leads festal Liturgy at Khreshchatyk Monastery
Hundreds of believers gathered at the UOC’s St. John the Theologian Monastery in Bukovina to celebrate its patronal feast.
Mystery donor hides gold coins in English churches to help parishes
An Anglican parish in the village of Melling found gold coins beneath the altar and sold them to repair the church, avoiding closure.
Met. Anthony opposes recognizing LGBT lifestyle as normal for EU accession
The UOC Chancellor commented on calls to support the rights of LGBT individuals as one of the alleged conditions for Ukraine’s European integration.
Analyst on Lavra pantheon: Zelensky wants to strike Church where it hurts
According to Bondarenko, there is no need to place the pantheon specifically in the Lavra – the president is driven by cynicism and a desire to hurt believers.
Archaeologists discover 4th-century Christian basilica in Italy
Italian authorities decided to revise a residential development plan in order to preserve the archaeological find from the Late Antique period.
EU accused of ignoring persecution of Armenian Church
Nikol Pashinyan accuses senior clergy of supporting the violent overthrow of the government.