U.S. designates Pakistan and China as countries of particular concern for religious freedom violation
The Hindu
Mr. Blinken also announced to place Algeria, Comoros, Cuba, and Nicaragua on a Special Watch List.
The United States on Wednesday designated several nations, including Pakistan, China, Iran, North Korea and Myanmar, as countries of particular concern for violation of religious freedom.
"I am designating Burma (Myanmar), the People’s Republic of China, Eritrea, Iran, the DPRK, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan as Countries of Particular Concern for having engaged in or tolerated systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom," U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said.
Mr. Blinken also announced to place Algeria, Comoros, Cuba, and Nicaragua on a Special Watch List for governments that have engaged in or tolerated “severe violations of religious freedom.” The U.S. also designated al-Shabaab, Boko Haram, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the Houthis, ISIS, ISIS-Greater Sahara, ISIS-West Africa, Jamaat Nasr al-Islam wal Muslimin and the Taliban as ‘Entities of Particular Concern’.
YouTuber ‘Savukku’ Shankar alias A. Shankar’s mother has filed a habeas corpus petition (HCP) challenging his detention under the Goondas Act even before the Home Secretary could refer the matter to the Advisory Board for its opinion and therefore, the petition must be dismissed, Greater Chennai City Commissioner of Police Sandeep Rai Rathore, has contended before the Madras High Court.