Religious freedom is a universal human right. The United States’ defence of that right includes issuing the International Religious Freedom report each year to assist those who protect this fundamental freedom.
On May 15, Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued the 2022 Report on International Religious Freedom and credited those who work to advance religious freedom, often at great personal risk.
He said: “This report wouldn’t be possible without the contributions of our civil society partners around the globe who help to shine a spotlight on abuses and advocate for victims of religious persecution. We are grateful for their vital work.”
He commended the Campaign for Uyghurs, the Uyghur Human Rights Project and other advocacy groups that document the genocide and crimes against humanity committed by the People’s Republic of China against Uyghurs, who are predominantly Muslim, and members of other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang. In Burma, thousands of teachers of Muslim, Buddhist, Christian and other faiths continue to teach the value of human rights, despite the military regime’s ongoing repression of minorities, including the Rohingya, a predominantly Muslim ethnic minority group.
Blinken hailed the bravery of Martha Patricia Molina Montenegro, a lawyer exiled from Nicaragua, where the Ortega-Murillo regime has attacked the Catholic Church and its supporters. In 2022, Molina Montenegro exposed more than 160 attacks against the Catholic Church and its supporters, including desecrations and unjust arrests.
The annual report comprehensively reviews the status of religious freedom in nearly 200 countries and territories. It tracks violations and abuses of religious freedom as well as positive governmental or societal actions. The report also informs critical U.S. foreign policy decisions.
The 2022 report highlights countries that took steps to protect religious freedom in 2022, including:
