The U.S. Department of State today released the 2009 Annual International Religious Freedom Report. At a special briefing marking the release, Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton said freedom of religion is a founding principle of the United States — but it is a universal value, not just an American value. “It is a freedom guaranteed to all people in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” she said.

This year’s report contains assessments of 198 countries and territories, making it one of the most comprehensive reports available. Eight countries “of particular concern” were identified by the State Department as having serious religious freedom violations. They are: Burma, China, Eritrea, Iran, North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Sudan and Uzbekistan. Twenty-nine countries had violations “of substantial interest.” Twenty-one countries — some of which are also on the list “of particular concern” or “of substantial interest” — were found to have made specific improvements in religious freedom conditions.

The International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 designates the promotion of religious freedom for all persons as a core objective of U.S. foreign policy. The act also provides the mandate for the annual religious freedom report produced by the State Department. U.S. embassies around the world gather information for the annual report from a variety of sources, including government and religious officials, nongovernmental organizations, journalists, human rights monitors, religious groups and academics.

FREEDOM OF RELIGION PROMOTES NATIONAL SECURITY

According to Clinton, freedom of religion “allows nations that uphold it to become more stable, secure and prosperous.” It was a message echoed by Michael Posner, assistant secretary of state for democracy, human rights and labor.

In his introduction to the report, he writes: “Authoritarian regimes that repress religious groups and ideas in the name of stability create the very conditions that subvert their stated goals. Repression radicalizes. Coercive and arbitrary interference in peaceful religious practice can harden resentment against the state and lead some to separatism or insurgency.”

Linking extremism and terrorism, Posner cautioned that “governments must ensure that their policies on religion do not have negative international consequences.”

The United States, Clinton said, is expanding programs that work to bridge the divide between religious groups. “These important efforts build on the shared values and common concerns of faith communities to sow the seeds of lasting peace,” she said.

Although the report shines a spotlight on abuses by states and societies, it also seeks to draw attention to positive steps many countries and organizations are taking to promote freedom and interreligious harmony, Clinton said.

In her remarks, Clinton commended the leadership of the Philippines in the Tripartite Forum on Interfaith Cooperation for Peace at the United Nations, as well as Jordan’s role in initiating the “A Common Word” dialogue and many other international and domestic initiatives.

Full text of remarks on the release of the report.

Full text of the 2009 Annual International Religious Freedom Report.