Washington. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Friday that the United States designated China, Iran and Russia as countries of particular concern under the Religious Freedom Act over serious violations. According to a report by news agency Reuters, Blinken said in a statement that countries designated as countries of particular concern are often involved in serious violations of religious freedom. Along with China, Russia, Iran, Myanmar and North Korea have also been included in the list of these countries. While Algeria, Central African Republic, Comoros and Vietnam have been placed on the watch list.

The Wagner Group, which has a private army, has also been included in this list. Wagner is a private paramilitary organization active in Syria, Africa and Ukraine. Several groups including this paramilitary organization have also been designated as Entities of Special Concern. Blinken explained that the Wagner Group was named for its activities in the Central African Republic. During this, he said that around the world, governments and non-governmental elements harass, threaten, imprison and even kill people on the basis of their beliefs.

The plight of minorities in Iran
The report states that the Bahá’í community is one of the most severely persecuted religious minorities in Iran. America believes that there has been an increase in arrests on the basis of religion in Iran this year. Along with Christian converts and atheists, Sunni Muslims are also being persecuted in Iran. More than 300 people have been killed and 14,000 arrested in the violence that has erupted since the death of Mahsa Amini, a 22-year-old Kurdish woman from the country’s minority community.

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Tags: China, Iran, Myanmar, religious bigotry