US Designates Iran, China as Countries of Concern Over Religious Freedom

WASHINGTON—The United States on Friday designated China, Iran, and Russia, among others, as countries of particular concern under the Religious Freedom Act over severe violations, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
Blinken in a statement said those designated as countries of particular concern—which also include North Korea and Burma (also known as Myanmar)—engaged in or tolerated severe violations of religious freedom.
Algeria, the Central African Republic, Comoros, and Vietnam were placed on the watch list.
Several groups, including the Kremlin-aligned Wagner Group, a private paramilitary organization that is active in Syria, Africa, and Ukraine, were also designated as entities of particular concern. The Wagner group was designated over its activities in the Central African Republic, Blinken said….}