US Report on International Religious Freedom monitors harassment and discrimination against Arab Shia and Muslim minorities
The US state department’s Report on International Religious Freedom monitored harassment and discrimination against Arab Shias in some Gulf countries and North Africa, as well as against Muslim minorities in countries such as India, Myanmar and China.
The annual report on religious freedom monitored restrictions imposed on religious minorities in about 200 countries around the world, covering the period between January 1 and December 31, 2021.
The report revealed the documentation of serious violations in Arab countries, especially the Gulf States and Egypt, including enforced disappearance, torture, cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment of prisoners, harsh and life-threatening prison conditions, arbitrary arrests and detentions, and intimidation of opponents at home and abroad.
It also documented serious restrictions on freedom of expression and the media, including unjustified arrests or prosecutions against journalists and others, censorship, serious restrictions on internet freedom, and significant interference with freedom of peaceful assembly and freedom of association.
The report provided information on the human rights situation around the world, and included separate reports for each country, including the Arab countries.
In a speech marking the launch of the report, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken said we must “impose sanctions on those who violate human rights”.
Blinken said that religious freedom and the rights of religious minorities are threatened all over the world, and called for the need to work to address anti-Islam and anti-Muslim sentiment.
The report is based on preliminary drafts provided by US embassies based on information from government officials, religious groups, NGOs, journalists, human rights monitors, academics, the media, and others.
