The threat to religious freedom remains strong worldwide, according to the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) in its annual report published this week.

The report identifies 14 countries of particular concern for their “systematic, ongoing, and egregious” violations of religious freedom, and recommends another 12 as needing special monitoring for their severe violations.

Many countries used the pretext of the COVID-19 pandemic to aggravate religious discrimination. USCIRF noted that China, Nigeria, and India were some of the worst violators of religious freedom.

In recent years, USCIRF has strongly criticized the Chinese government’s atrocities committed against Uyghur Muslims in Xinjiang province. In retaliation, China earlier this year sanctioned Gayle Manchin and Tony Perkins, the current Chair and Vice-Chair of USCIRF.

Kelsey Zorzi, Director of Advocacy for Global Religious Freedom for ADF International said the USCIRF’s Annual Report continues to shed light on “the worst abusers against people of faith and even no faith, and stands as a key resource for advocates and governments”.

“We welcome the new report and hope the United States Government will heed the voices of the persecuted in developing its foreign policy priorities,” she said.