U.S. Report Flags 18 Nations for Worst Religious Persecution

The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) has released its 2026 Annual Report, identifying 18 countries as the world’s worst violators of religious freedom and calling on Washington to take firmer diplomatic action against governments that imprison, harm, or kill people over their beliefs.

The report, released on March 4, documents religious freedom conditions throughout 2025 and sets out policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and the U.S. Congress on advancing freedom of religion or belief abroad.

Five countries join the Countries of Particular Concern (CPC) list as new additions this year: Afghanistan, India, Libya, Syria, and Vietnam. They join longstanding violators including Burma, China, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, Nicaragua, Nigeria, North Korea, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Tajikistan, and Turkmenistan.

Syria and Libya were the most notable new entries. Regarding Libya, the commission cited the sentencing of 10 Christians and one atheist to prison terms ranging from three to 15 years because of beliefs deemed inconsistent with government preferences. In Syria, the report documented mass killings of Alawite civilians and an attack on a Damascus church that killed at least 25 worshippers during Sunday service.

Nigeria’s situation was described as “abysmal,” with nearly 53,000 citizens killed since 2009 and around 21,000 over the last five years, forcing millions to flee their homes.

The report also took aim at gaps in U.S. policy. The commission said the State Department’s suspension of foreign aid left hundreds of victims of religious persecution in immediate need of assistance in countries including Afghanistan, Burma, Egypt, Nigeria, and Vietnam, and that funding cuts contributed to 11.6 million refugees losing access to humanitarian assistance.

USCIRF Chair Vicky Hartzler urged integrating religious freedom into U.S. diplomacy, including trade deals, military aid, and broader foreign policy, arguing that direct engagement has helped free prisoners and prompted legal changes in some countries.

The recommendations are directed at the State Department, which makes the final designation decisions and is not required to impose sanctions even when a CPC status is granted. Several countries currently hold CPC designations alongside national interest waivers that shield them from penalties.

This article was originally published on https://www.newsghana.com.gh/u-s-report-flags-18-nations-for-worst-religious-persecution/