The US has designated Boko Haram
as an “entity of particular concern”.
NAN quoted Michael Pompeo, US
secretary of state, as saying this in a statement on Tuesday.
Boko Haram was put in the same
category as Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS), al-Qa’ida and al-Shabab.
Many lives have been lost and
several displaced as a result of the activities of Boko Haram in 2018 alone.
Pompeo said Saudi Arabia, Iran,
Burma, North Korea, among others are countries of particular concern, while
Comoros, Russia, and Uzbekistan were put on a special watch list.
The US secretary of state
expressed concern that people in different countries across the world people
face harassment, arrests and death for living their lives in accordance with
their beliefs.
“On November 28, 2018, I
designated Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Pakistan, Sudan, Saudi
Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan, as Countries of Particular Concern under
the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 for having engaged in or
tolerated ‘systematic, ongoing, (and) egregious violations of religious
freedom,” he said.
“I also placed Comoros, Russia,
and Uzbekistan on a Special Watch List for governments that have engaged in or
tolerated ‘severe violations of religious freedom.
“Finally, I designated al-Nusra
Front, al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula, al-Qa’ida, al-Shabab, Boko Haram,
the Houthis, ISIS, ISIS-Khorasan, and the Taliban as entities of particular
concern.
“The United States will not stand
by as spectators in the face of such oppression. Protecting and promoting
international religious freedom is a top foreign policy priority of the Trump
administration.
“In July, I hosted the first-ever
Ministerial to Advance Religious Freedom, which brought together some 85
like-minded governments and more than 400 civil society organisations to
harness global attention and motivate forceful action to advance respect for
the human right of religious freedom.”
Pompeo said safeguarding
religious freedom is vital to ensuring peace, stability and prosperity across
the world.
“These designations are aimed at
improving the lives of individuals and the broader success of their societies,”
he said.
“I recognise that several
designated countries are working to improve their respect for religious
freedom. I welcome such initiatives and look forward to continuing the
dialogue.
“The United States remains
committed to working with governments, civil society organisations, and
religious leaders to advance religious freedom around the world.”
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