(7 Oct 1999) English/Nat
The U-S State Department has designated seven nations for possible sanctions over "severe" violations of religious freedom.
An annual State Department report on religious tolerance lists China, Iran, Iraq, Myanmar, Afghanistan, Serbia and Sudan as the lead violators in religious tolerance.
State Department spokesman James Rubin said all seven nations may soon face economic and diplomatic punishment over the issue.
China is the only nation among the seven to enjoy diplomatic ties with the United States, and even that relationship is often frosty.
The State Department spokesman said there were nonetheless a variety of sanctions that could punish the nations for their religious intolerance.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I assume as journalists you understand the value in shinning a spotlight on human rights abuses. That is something that we think is an important part of the process of promoting human rights -- shinning a spotlight on abuses. To the extent that this report can help do that, that will be a good step. To the extent that some of these countries, and it is not true with all of them, that they are already so cut off, that there is nothing further that we can cut off, that does not mean that we should not identify them as countries that are violating religious freedom, just because we don't have ties with them."
SUPER CAPTION: James Rubin, US State Department Spokesman
The disclosures came four weeks after the State Department issued its first annual report on the state of religious freedom worldwide.
The report said Chinese government intolerance of unregistered religious activity has led to harsh persecution of people on the basis of their religious practice.
Serbia was slammed for the widespread killing and raping of Kosovar Albanians, most of whom are Muslim.
The report accused Burma's military regime of arresting Buddhist monks who promote human rights.
Muslim regimes in Iraq, Iran and Sudan were singled out for attempts to eradicate minority religious sects.
Afghanistan's Taliban leadership came under fire for its severe punishment of anyone who dares deviate from their codes of Islamic worship and dress.
U-S legislators met on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to discuss the report, which was widely applauded.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Today's hearing is living proof that the United States has taken some important steps toward helping millions of people around the world who are persecuted simply because they are people of faith. Unfortunately we still have a long way to go. The first annual report exhibits some of the strengths but also some of the weaknesses of the State Department's annual country report on human rights practices which address a broader range of human rights abuses."
SUPER CAPTION: Christopher Smith, Republican (New Jersey) and Chair of Committee on Religion
Some called on the Clinton administration to take strong action.
SOUNDBITE: (English)
"Besides the mandate to provide detailed information with respect to religious freedom around the world, the international religious freedom act also requires the president or his designees, in this case the secretary of state, to determine which countries should be designated as countries of particular concern. I am informed that the list is made up of Burma, the peoples Republic of China, Sudan, Iran, Iraq and the Taliban in Afghanistan."
SUPER CAPTION: Benjamin Gilman, Republican from New York
Secretary of State Madeleine Albright still has the option of waiving sanctions if she deems it to be in the national interest.
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