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Background
Under the International Religious Freedom Act (IRFA) of 1998, the President is required to annually review the status of religious freedom in every country in the world and designate each country the government of which has engaged in or tolerated “particularly severe violations of religious freedom” as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). The law defines particularly severe violations as “systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom,” including violations such as: (1) torture; (2) prolonged detention without charges; (3) forced disappearance; or (4) other flagrant denial of life, liberty, or security of persons.
Under the Frank R. Wolf International Religious Freedom Act of 2016 (Wolf Act), the President is required to “designate each country that engaged in or tolerated severe violations of religious freedom during the previous year, but does not meet” all the criteria for being designated as a CPC to a “Special Watch List” (SWL).
The Wolf Act also further requires the designation of Entities of Particular Concern (EPC) for non-state actors that have engaged in particularly severe violations of religious freedom. According to the law, a “non-state actor” is defined as “a nonsovereign entity that (A) exercises significant political power and territorial control; (B) is outside the control of a sovereign government; and (C) often employs violence in pursuit of its objectives.” The President has delegated the authority to make CPC, SWL, and EPC designations to the Secretary of State.
Countries of Particular Concern
The most recent Countries of Particular Concern designations were made by the Secretary of State on December 29, 2023:
Burma, People’s Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
Special Watch List Countries
The most recent Special Watch List designations were made by the Secretary of State on December 29, 2023:
Algeria, Azerbaijan, the Central African Republic, Comoros, and Vietnam.
Entities of Particular Concern
The most recent Entities of Particular Concern designations were made by the Secretary of State on December 29, 2023:
al Qa’ida affiliateAl-Shabaab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISIS-Sahel (formerly known as ISIS-Greater Sahara), ISIS-West Africa, al Qa’ida affiliateJamaat Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin, and the Taliban.
FAQs
Burma, People's Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
What are the Countries of Particular Concern in the US? ›
The U.S. has designated China, North Korea and Pakistan as "Countries of Particular Concern" for engaging in and tolerating "particularly severe violations of religious freedom." Announcing the Religious Freedom Designations, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said that advancing the freedom of religion or belief ...
What are the 7 countries of concern? ›
“Foreign countries of concern” are defined as the People's Republic of China, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Republic of Cuba, the Venezuelan regime of Nicolás Maduro, or the Syrian Arab Republic.
What are special watch list countries? ›
Q: What is a “Special Watch List” (SWL) country? A: A “Special Watch List” country is one that is deemed not to meet all of the CPC criteria but engages in or tolerates severe violations of religious freedom.
What are the entities of particular concern? ›
Entities of Particular Concern includes al-Qaeda affiliate Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISIS-Sahel (formerly known as ISIS-Greater Sahara), ISIS-West Africa, al-Qaeda affiliate Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin, and the Taliban.
What are the countries of special concern? ›
The most recent Countries of Particular Concern designations were made by the Secretary of State on December 29, 2023: Burma, People's Republic of China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.
What are the sensitive countries for the US? ›
| AG | Algeria | Sensitive |
|---|
| CU | Cuba | Sensitive-Terrorist |
| IR | Iran | Sensitive-Terrorist |
| KN | Korea, North | Sensitive-Terrorist |
| SU | Sudan | Sensitive-Terrorist |
23 more rowsTargeted sanctions countries:
Afghanistan, Balkans, Belarus, Burma, Central African Republic, Congo, Ethiopia, Hong Kong, Iran, Iraq, Lebanon, Libya, Mali, Nicaragua, North Korea, Russia, Somalia, Sudan, South Sudan, Syria, Ukraine/Russia, Venezuela, Yemen, and Zimbabwe.
What is the country of concern State department? ›
(c) The term “country of concern” means any foreign government that, as determined by the Attorney General pursuant to section 2(c)(iii) or 2(f) of this order, has engaged in a long-term pattern or serious instances of conduct significantly adverse to the national security of the United States or the security and ...
What are the foreign entities of concern? ›
Foreign Entities of Concern: Definition and Key Issues
Terrorist groups, for example, are classified as FEOCs; so too are businesses significantly influenced by the governments of China, Russia, North Korea, or Iran (known as “covered nations”).
| Country | Persecution Source | Main Religion |
|---|
| 1North Korea | Communist and post-Communist oppression | Agnosticism |
| 2Somalia | Islamic oppression | Islam |
| 3Libya | Islamic oppression | Islam |
| 4Eritrea | Dictatorial paranoia | Islam |
46 more rowsThe color of each square represents its region of the world. In 2021, four countries – Afghanistan, Egypt, Pakistan and Syria – had “very high” levels of both government restrictions and social hostilities involving religion.
What is a foreign country of concern? ›
§ 231.102 Foreign country of concern.
(b) Any country that the Secretary, in consultation with the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the Director of National Intelligence, determines to be engaged in conduct that is detrimental to the national security or foreign policy of the United States.
What is the country of concern? ›
(1) Foreign country of concern The term “foreign country of concern” means the People's Republic of China, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, the Russian Federation, the Islamic Republic of Iran, or any other country determined to be a country of concern by the Department of State.
What are the countries that support USA? ›
United States Allies and NATO
| Country | Year Joined |
|---|
| United Kingdom | 1949 |
| France | 1949 |
| Italy | 1949 |
| Canada | 1949 |
26 more rowsThe United States of America is a federal republic consisting of 50 states, a federal district (Washington, D.C., the capital city of the United States), five major territories, and various minor islands.
What countries are in the US region? ›
The term Northern America refers to the northernmost countries and territories of North America: the U.S., Bermuda, Canada, Greenland, and St. Pierre and Miquelon. Although the term does not refer to a unified region, Middle America includes Mexico, Central America, and the Caribbean.
