Among the countries of particular concern due to the fact that their governments violate the rights of citizens to freedom of religion, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken mentioned Turkmenistan in his statement. A statement about this is published on the website of the US State Department, Hronikatm.com reports.
In addition to Turkmenistan, the list of countries for participating in or allowing especially serious violations of religious freedom includes such countries as Burma, Cuba, Eritrea, Iran, China, North Korea, Nicaragua, Pakistan, Russia, Saudi Arabia and Tajikistan.
“Countries that effectively protect the right to religious freedom and other human rights are more peaceful, stable, prosperous, and more reliable partners for the United States than those that do not,” the US Secretary of State said and noted that the US “will continue to carefully monitor the state of freedom of religion or belief in every country in the world and protect those who face religious persecution or discrimination.”
In November 2021, US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken listed Turkmenistan as one of the 10 countries of particular concern for "systematic and egregious violations of religious freedoms." The same status was assigned to the country in 2020 and 2019.
In June 2022, the US Department of State released a report on religious freedom around the world, including in Turkmenistan in 2021. It noted that President Gurbanguly Berdimuhamedov had pardoned all 16 Jehovah's Witnesses imprisoned for conscientious objection to military service. At the same time, members of some registered and unregistered Christian organizations continued to face official and unofficial harassment, raids and house searches when attempting to gather for a common worship service.
In April 2022, the US Department of State released a general report on the observance of human rights in the world. The 32-page section on Turkmenistan notes that the country has recorded extrajudicial killings and torture by police officers, arrests and harassment of activists, Internet censorship, widespread government corruption, lack of free elections, and much more.
CentralasianLIGHT.org
December 5, 2022