Washington (AsiaNews/Agencies) – The situation of religious freedom is worsening in Iraq, and remains a serious cause for concern in China, Iran, Myanmar, North Korea and Uzbekistan. “Big problems” for Pakistan, while glimmers of hope, if somewhat weak, are noted in Saudi Arabia.  These are some of the issues covered in the US State Departments Annual Report on International Religious Freedom, presented yesterday by Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, who underlined “Freedom of religion is integral to efforts to combat the ideology of hatred and intolerance that fuels global terrorism”.

The study takes in 198 countries, with Iraq among those with the worst record.  “Many individuals from various religious groups were targeted because of their religious identity or their secular leanings," the report said. It found that members of all religions in Iraq are "victims of harassment, intimidation, kidnapping, and killings" and that "frequent sectarian violence included attacks on places of worship”. The report notes the seriousness of the situation between Sunni and Shiite Muslims, At the same time, it said, "non-Muslims (are) especially vulnerable to pressure and violence, because of their minority status and, often, because of the lack of a protective tribal structure." A list then follows of 38 different attacks carried out between June 2006 and June 2007, against the various communities, above all Christians.

With regards China it registered a harshening of restrictions on religious communities and missionaries in the run up to the Olympics in 2008.  Cautious optimism is expressed towards Riyadh, often taken to task by Washington for human rights abuses, but against whom the US has yet to apply concrete pressure.