View source for Country of Particular Concern

{{short description|Designation under International Religious Freedom Act}}
A '''Country of Particular Concern''' (CPC) is a designation by the [[United States]] [[United States Secretary of State|Secretary of State]] (under authority delegated by the President) of a country responsible for particularly severe violations of [[religious freedom]] under the [[International Religious Freedom Act of 1998|International Religious Freedom Act]] (IRFA) of 1998 (H.R. 2431) and its amendment of 1999 (Public Law 106-55). The term "particularly severe violations of religious freedom" means systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom, including violations such as:

*a) [[Torture]] or cruel, [[inhuman, or degrading treatment]] or punishment; 
*b) Prolonged detention without charges; 
*c) Causing the [[Forced_disappearance|disappearance]] of persons by the abduction or clandestine detention of those persons; or 
*d) Other flagrant denials of the right to life, liberty, or the security of persons. Nations so designated are subject to further actions, including [[economic sanctions]], by the United States.

== USCIRF suggestion ==
Issuing recommendations as to countries it believes should be designated as countries of particular concern for their religious liberty violations is the [[United States Commission on International Religious Freedom]] (USCIRF), a separate agency created by IRFA (along with the U.S. Department of State's Office of International Religious Freedom) to monitor the state of religious freedom around the world.  Both entities provide policy recommendations to the president, the secretary of state and [[US Congress]]. Its recommendations are not always followed by the Secretary of State.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2023-05-03 |title=Present imperfect: on the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom's latest report and India |url=https://www.thehindu.com/opinion/editorial/present-imperfect-on-the-us-commission-on-international-religious-freedoms-latest-report-and-india/article66808412.ece |access-date=2024-03-13 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Jeremy |first=Barker |date=2022-12-25 |title=Will US religious freedom designations drive real actions? |url=https://thehill.com/opinion/civil-rights/3777118-will-us-religious-freedom-designations-drive-real-actions/ |access-date=2024-03-13 |website=The Hill |language=en-US}}</ref>

Since 2018, the USCIRF report recommended each of the following nations as a CPC:
{|class=wikitable
!2018<ref name=AR2018>{{Cite web|url=https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2018USCIRFAR.pdf|title=2018 Annual Report|last=|first=|last2=|date=December 11, 2018|website=www.uscirf.gov|publisher=[[United States Commission on International Religious Freedom]]|access-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref>
!2020<ref name=AR2020>{{cite web |title=ANNUAL REPORT 2020 |publisher=United States Commission on International Religious Freedom |url=https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/USCIRF%202020%20Annual%20Report_Final_42920.pdf}}</ref>
!2021<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|title=Annual Report 2021|url=https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2021-04/2021%20Annual%20Report_0.pdf|url-status=live|publisher=United States Commission on International Religious Freedom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210427135154/https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2021-04/2021%20Annual%20Report_0.pdf |archive-date=2021-04-27 }}</ref>
!2022<ref name="AR2022">{{Cite web|title=Annual Report 2022|url=https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2022-04/2022%20USCIRF%20Annual%20Report_1.pdf|url-status=live|publisher=United States Commission on International Religious Freedom|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220730003608/https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/2022-04/2022%20USCIRF%20Annual%20Report_1.pdf |archive-date=2022-07-30 }}</ref>
!2024<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2024-03-04 |title=Religious Freedom Conditions Around the World {{!}} USCIRF |url=https://www.uscirf.gov/countries |access-date=2024-03-05 |website=www.uscirf.gov |language=en}}</ref>
|-style="vertical-align: top;"
|
*{{flag|Central African Republic}}
*{{flag|China}}
*{{flag|Eritrea}}
*{{flag|Iran}}
*{{flag|Myanmar}}
*{{flag|Nigeria}}
*{{flag|North Korea}}
*{{flag|Pakistan}}
*{{flag|Russia}}
*{{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
*{{flag|Sudan}}
*{{flag|Syria}}
*{{flag|Tajikistan}}
*{{flag|Turkmenistan}}
*{{Flag|Uzbekistan}}
*{{flag|Vietnam}}
|
*{{flag|China}}
*{{flag|Eritrea}}
*{{flag|India}}
*{{flag|Iran}}
*{{flag|Myanmar}}
*{{flag|Nigeria}}
*{{flag|North Korea}}
*{{flag|Pakistan}}
*{{flag|Russia}}
*{{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
*{{flag|Syria}}
*{{flag|Tajikistan}}
*{{flag|Turkmenistan}}
*{{flag|Vietnam}}
|
*{{Flag|China}}
*{{Flag|Eritrea}}
*{{Flag|India}}
*{{flag|Iran}}
*{{flag|Myanmar}}
*{{flag|Nigeria}}
*{{flag|North Korea}}
*{{flag|Pakistan}}
*{{flag|Russia}}
*{{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
*{{flag|Syria}}
*{{flag|Tajikistan}}
*{{flag|Turkmenistan}}
*{{flag|Vietnam}}
|
*{{Flag|Afghanistan}}
*{{Flag|China}}
*{{Flag|Eritrea}}
*{{Flag|India}}
*{{flag|Iran}}
*{{flag|Myanmar}}
*{{flag|Nigeria}}
*{{flag|North Korea}}
*{{flag|Pakistan}}
*{{flag|Russia}}
*{{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
*{{flag|Syria}}
*{{flag|Tajikistan}}
*{{flag|Turkmenistan}}
*{{flag|Vietnam}}
|
*{{Flag|Afghanistan}}
*{{Flag|China}}
*{{flag|Cuba}}
*{{Flag|Eritrea}}
*{{Flag|India}}
*{{flag|Iran}}
*{{flag|Myanmar}}
*{{flag|Nicaragua}}
*{{flag|Nigeria}}
*{{flag|North Korea}}
*{{flag|Pakistan}}
*{{flag|Russia}}
*{{flag|Saudi Arabia}}
*{{flag|Syria}}
*{{flag|Tajikistan}}
*{{flag|Turkmenistan}}
*{{flag|Vietnam}}
|}

These countries are considered Tier 2 countries and are on the watchlist:<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.uscirf.gov/sites/default/files/Overview.pdf|title=2018 report overview|last=|first=|date=December 11, 2018|website=|publisher=[[United States Commission on International Religious Freedom]]|access-date=December 11, 2018}}</ref>

{|class=wikitable
!2018<ref name=AR2018/> !!2020<ref name=AR2020/>
!2021<ref name=":1" />
!2022<ref name=AR2022/>
!2024<ref name=":2" />
|-style="vertical-align: top;"
|
*{{flag|Afghanistan}}
*{{flag|Azerbaijan}}
*{{flag|Bahrain}}
*{{flag|Cuba}}
*{{flag|Egypt}}
*{{flag|India}}
*{{flag|Indonesia}}
*{{flag|Iraq}}
*{{flag|Kazakhstan}}
*{{flag|Laos}}
*{{flag|Malaysia}}
*{{flag|Turkey}}
|
*{{flag|Afghanistan}}
*{{flag|Algeria}}
*{{flag|Azerbaijan}}
*{{flag|Bahrain}}
*{{flag|Central African Republic}}
*{{flag|Cuba}}
*{{flag|Egypt}}
*{{flag|Indonesia}}
*{{flag|Iraq}}
*{{flag|Kazakhstan}}
*{{flag|Malaysia}}
*{{flag|Nicaragua}}
|
*{{flag|Afghanistan}}
*{{flag|Algeria}}
*{{flag|Azerbaijan}}
*{{flag|Cuba}}
*{{flag|Egypt}}
*{{flag|Indonesia}}
*{{flag|Iraq}}
*{{flag|Kazakhstan}}
*{{flag|Malaysia}}
*{{flag|Nicaragua}}
*{{flag|Turkey}}
*{{Flag|Uzbekistan}}
|
*{{flag|Algeria}}
*{{flag|Azerbaijan}}
*{{flag|Central African Republic}}
*{{flag|Cuba}}
*{{flag|Egypt}}
*{{flag|Indonesia}}
*{{flag|Iraq}}
*{{flag|Kazakhstan}}
*{{flag|Laos}}
*{{flag|Malaysia}}
*{{flag|Nicaragua}}
*{{flag|Turkey}}
*{{Flag|Uzbekistan}}
|
* {{flag|Algeria}}
* {{flag|Azerbaijan}}
* {{flag|Central African Republic}}
* {{flag|Egypt}}
* {{flag|Indonesia}}
* {{flag|Iraq}}
* {{flag|Kazakhstan}}
* {{flag|Malaysia}}
* {{flag|Sri Lanka}}
* {{flag|Turkey}}
* {{Flag|Uzbekistan}}
|}

In addition, the USCIRF designated the following [[Non-state actor|non-state actors]] as "entities of particular concern" (EPCs):<ref name=":0" />

* [[Islamic State of Iraq and Syria|The Islamic State of Iraq and Syria]] (ISIS)
* [[Taliban|The Taliban in Afghanistan]]
* [[Al-Shabaab (militant group)|Al-Shabaab in Somalia]]
* [[al-Nusra Front]]
* [[Al-Qaeda|al-Qa’ida]]
* [[Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula|al-Qa’ida in the Arabian Peninsula]] (AQAP)
* [[Boko Haram]]
* [[Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant – Khorasan Province|ISIS-Khorasan]]

== Secretary of State announces list ==
In December 2020, the U.S. Department of State designated China, Eritrea, Iran, Myanmar, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan as Countries of Particular Concern and Afghanistan, the Central African Republic, Cuba, Egypt, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Nicaragua as countries on the Watch List.<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=December 7, 2020|title=United States Takes Action Against Violators of Religious Freedom|url=https://www.state.gov/united-states-takes-action-against-violators-of-religious-freedom-2/|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201207205243/https://www.state.gov/united-states-takes-action-against-violators-of-religious-freedom-2/ |archive-date=2020-12-07 |access-date=2020-12-09|website=United States Department of State|language=en-US}}</ref>

In November 2022, the U.S. Department of State designated Burma (Myanmar), China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as Countries of Particular Concern and Algeria, the Central African Republic, Comoros, and Vietnam as countries on the Watch List. Entities of Particular Concern includes Al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, [[Hayat Tahrir al-Sham]], the [[Houthis]], ISIS-Sahel (formerly known as ISIS-Greater Sahara), ISIS-West Africa, [[Jama'at Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin]], the Taliban, and the [[Wagner Group]] based on its actions in the Central African Republic.<ref>{{cite web |last=Arielle Del Turco |first=M.A. |title=Countries of Particular Concern-Why This U.S. Foreign Policy Tool Is Often Ineffective and How to Make It Better |url=https://downloads.frc.org/EF/EF22L14.pdf |website=Center for Religious Liberty at Family Research Council}}</ref>

In December 2023, the U.S. Department of State designated Burma (Myanmar), China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as Countries of Particular Concern and Algeria, Azerbaijan, the Central African Republic, Comoros, and Vietnam as countries on the Watch List. 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.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Countries of Particular Concern, Special Watch List Countries, Entities of Particular Concern |url=https://www.state.gov/countries-of-particular-concern-special-watch-list-countries-entities-of-particular-concern/ |access-date=2023-12-12 |website=United States Department of State |language=en-US}}</ref>

==References==
<references/>

==External links==
*[https://2001-2009.state.gov/g/drl/irf/ US State Department Office of International Religious Freedom]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20111203104504/http://www.uscirf.gov/countries/countries-of-particular-concern.html CPC page at the USCIRF website]

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[[Category:Freedom of religion in the United States]]