India is the world’s largest democracy and home to a great diversity of faiths, the US has said.
“We encourage and will continue to encourage the Indian government to hold its commitment to protecting religious freedom for all,” State Spokesman Ned Price said.
This statement came after the Biden administration released the name of countries that are designated under the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998.
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, in a statement, said, “Finally, I am designating al-Shabab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISIS-Greater Sahara, ISIS-West Africa, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam Wal-Muslimin, the Taliban, and the Wagner Group based on its actions in the Central African Republic as Entities of Particular Concern.”
Blinken also said that Cuba and Nicaragua were added to the list of countries of “Particular Concern”, and China, Russia, Iran, Burma, Eritrea, North Korea and Pakistan remain on the list, according to the statement released by the US Department of State.
“I am also placing Algeria, the Central African Republic, Comoros, and Vietnam on the Special Watch List for engaging in or tolerating severe violations of religious freedom. Finally, I am designating al-Shabab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISIS-Greater Sahara, ISIS-West Africa, Jama’at Nusrat al-Islam Wal-Muslimin, the Taliban, and the Wagner Group based on its actions in the Central African Republic as Entities of Particular Concern,” the statement quoted Blinken as saying.
